Regierungssprecher Steffen Hebestreit plans to not give any advice to his designated successor Stefan Kornelius publicly. “Advice is always also a blow, especially when it is publicly distributed” said Hebestreit to the “Berlin Playbook Podcast” of “Politico.” If Kornelius asks him, he will of course answer. “We have also arranged to have a conversation with each other, a coffee break, a more extensive one” he explained.
Hebestreit said that fundamentally, the question is always why there are so many journalists who become government spokespersons. “It’s always good to know what journalism wants. And it’s clear that one is no longer a journalist” said the State Secretary, who himself worked as a chief correspondent for many years.
Hebestreit did not find the regular appearances before the Federal Press Conference to be burdensome. “I have always enjoyed doing that” he said. “I found it an unexpectedly nice event, as a government spokesperson. You have such a general authority.” He had the impression that he was much more forthcoming than ministry spokespersons – “because I get much more information, than if I were in a single department.