Special session of the state parliament next Wednesday
The Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament will hold a special session next Wednesday (December 6) to discuss the case of the critical letter from State Secretary Heike Raab (SPD) to SWR. At the request of the CDU and Free Voters parliamentary groups, the state parliament will then discuss the topic "Role and responsibility of the Minister President and State Chancellery in influencing the reporting of independent media" from 1 p.m., the state parliament announced in Mainz on Thursday.
Raab had sent a letter with an official letterhead from the state government to the Rhineland-Palatinate SWR state broadcasting director Ulla Fiebig. The letter concerned a broadcast on SWR television with a political correspondent from SWR, which also dealt with the political future of SPD politician Roger Lewentz, who had resigned as Rhineland-Palatinate's Interior Minister in connection with the Ahr Valley flood disaster. Opposition representatives see the letter to SWR as an inadmissible attempt to exert influence; there have already been calls for the resignation of Raab, who is one of the most important media politicians in Germany.
The special session in the state parliament next week will delve into the role of the Minister President and State Chancellery in influencing independent media, following the controversy surrounding State Secretary Heike Raab's letter to SWR. This letter, sent on behalf of the Rhineland-Palatinate government, sparked concern amongst opposition representatives, who view it as an unwarranted attempt to impact media reporting.
Source: www.dpa.com
