Julia Ruhs will no longer host the “Klar” program for the NDR (North German Broadcasting Corporation), a decision announced by the broadcaster. She will, however, continue to present episodes produced by the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting). Recent media reports had alleged a campaign by NDR employees targeting Ruhs, reportedly due to perceptions of her as a “conservative journalist.
This situation is increasingly drawing political attention. Carsten Linnemann, General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), voiced strong criticism in an interview with “Welt” television, characterizing the situation as a “new low point for the culture of debate in Germany”. He expressed concern that many citizens already feel constrained in their ability to express opinions freely, fearing being categorized and ostracized. Linnemann argued that excluding employees from public broadcasting due to perceived conservative viewpoints is deeply troubling and warrants serious consequences.
Linnemann emphasized the need for a broad spectrum of perspectives within the public broadcaster, spanning the political landscape from left to right. He warned that labeling dissenting views as “right-wing” undermines the potential for diverse opinions to flourish. According to Linnemann, public broadcasters have an obligation to uphold cultural, educational and informational standards.
He proposed financial adjustments for German public broadcasting as a necessary corrective measure, suggesting a freeze on broadcasting fees to exert pressure for reform and streamline operations. Linnemann also commended Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister President Daniel Günther, a fellow CDU member, for intervening in the debate. He underscored the importance of diverse viewpoints, including those often associated with conservative perspectives, within the public sphere. He characterized Ruhs’s work as valuable and the suspension as regrettable, praising Günther’s public stance as demonstrating integrity and signaling the need for change.