The ARD broadcaster’s Berlin studio unexpectedly recorded its “Summer Interview” with Felix Banaszak, co-leader of the Green party, on Sunday morning. The session, conducted by deputy studio chief Matthias Deiß, proceeded without disruption from protests.
The recording took place opposite the German parliament building, a location frequently used for broadcast interviews and which has become a focal point for demonstrations. While a pro-nuclear energy movement had announced a planned protest for 16:00 CET, visible near the television set, demonstrators were notably absent during the recording.
This event follows a tumultuous previous “Summer Interview” featuring AfD leader Alice Weidel two weeks prior. That broadcast was significantly hampered by activists from the “Center for Political Beauty” who deployed a sound truck playing a looped recording of the phrase “Scheiß AfD” (“Scum AfD”), effectively drowning out portions of the interview and causing significant disruption. Both Weidel and interviewer Markus Preiß, head of the ARD Berlin studio, were frequently inaudible and the broadcaster faced criticism for not interrupting the program.
The ARD studio had previously stated it would implement “security precautions” in advance of Banaszak’s interview, although specific details were not disclosed. The recorded interview is scheduled to be broadcast on the first channel at 18:00 CET.