By Michael Sauerbier
Now it’s getting serious for RBB boss Patricia Schlesinger (61): On Tuesday, the director of the fee-based broadcaster should start in the Brandenburg state parliament! The deputies demand clarification on the allegations of nepotism and corruption at the public broadcaster.
On Tuesday at 10 a.m., the main committee of the state parliament will come to a special session from the holidays. The only item on the agenda: the RBB scandal.
A report by the Internet portal “Business Insider” (like BZ belongs to Axel Springer SE) had raised serious allegations against Schlesinger and her chief supervisor Wolf-Dieter Wolf (78).
► Schlesinger (303,000 euros annual salary) is said to have incorrectly billed official dinners in her private apartment at the expense of the broadcaster. Were private invitations disguised as business appointments?
► The head of the RBB board of directors, Wolf, is said to have leaked fees of around 140,000 euros to Schlesinger’s husband Gerhard Spörl (72, ex-“Spiegel” editor, now a political consultant).
► In return, Schlesinger is said to have awarded consultancy contracts for a €100 million RBB construction project to real estate experts with whom supervisor Wolf had a business relationship.
Instead of refuting the allegations with facts, Schlesinger put a prominent media lawyer on critical journalists. At the expense of the fee payer. When the RBB employees demanded clarification, the director warned them against information to outsiders. That was taken as a threat.
Chief supervisor Wolf first denied contacts with real estate experts, then he admitted them. He has been out of office since Friday. An independent law firm is now to examine the network of relationships at the top of the station. But that’s not enough for Brandenburg’s politicians.
“Here the case would have ended up immediately with the corruption prosecutor’s office,” said a member of the BZ, “but the West Berlin members of the RBB broadcasting council are strangely disinterested.”
Not the Brandenburgers. She is annoyed that the broadcaster is building its new news center in Berlin – and has reduced the state parliament reports from Potsdam. In addition, there is outrage at the Felt allegations.
“I expect Ms. Schlesinger to answer the questions of the MPs,” says CDU faction leader Jan Redmann (42). Green parliamentary group leader Petra Budke (63): “The allegations are not a trivial offense!” “The director must tell us how she wants to clarify this,” demands SPD media politician Erik Stohn (38).
Thomas Domres (Linke, 52): “If the allegations are confirmed, we demand consequences – also in terms of personnel. And stricter anti-corruption rules in the broadcasting state treaty!”