While rbb director Patricia Schlesinger is still struggling to find out the details of her resignation, more details about the alleged business lunches in her Berlin private apartment are becoming known. Accordingly, these dinners were not decidedly business-related, as participants report.
Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) is fighting bravely for clarification in the “Causa Schlesinger”. Even the in-house investigative reporter team should ensure “maximum transparency” and dig deep into the box of misconduct by her ex-boss. The public broadcaster is dealing with the scandal in an unusually public way, sending executives in front of the cameras where they have to ask critical questions. Meanwhile, more and more contradictions come to light.
“Let’s rock the rbb!” That was the central participatory slogan of the former top journalist Patricia Schlesinger as director of the capital. The balance sheet after six years at the top: rocked. Destroyed an admirable career, self-inflicted of course, and done the public a disservice at the same time.
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Even if details of the farewell are still to be clarified, Schlesinger’s directorship is already history. Among other things, reports about the director’s luxury dinners in her private apartment at the expense of the broadcaster and thus the fee payer have contributed to this. It was they who ultimately broke the camel’s back and made their resignation without alternative.
In any case, Schlesinger was not stingy when it came to the design of her invitations, according to “Bild” the caterer served wild salmon terrine, saddle of venison, cheese and apple strudel, to wash it down with a few bottles of Sancerre (white wine from the Loire) and Pomerol (red wine from the Bordeaux region) in addition to champagne ) pour out. This probably resulted in costs in the high three-digit range per dinner. Schlesinger then served the bill to the broadcaster she was in charge of.
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Both rbb and Schlesinger have kept the list of participants secret so far. Nevertheless, the names of some of the guests became public. This is not their fault here. Unlike hostess Schlesinger. She had claimed that the meals billed via the broadcaster with the “multipliers” were of an official nature and that it was important “for the public service system to conduct background discussions”. This line of defense is collapsing, guests are asked.
For example with Prof. Dr. Heyo Kroemer, respected university manager and since September 2019 Chairman of the Charité. “Based on the type and content of the invitation and the course of the evening, the appointment was a private appointment,” he told FOCUS online via the university hospital’s press office. Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik draws a similar picture. According to a spokesman, it was with great astonishment and irritation that the costs for the evening meal were billed to rbb. It was in no way apparent to her that this meeting had a professional background.
Bettina Reitz, President of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), tells FOCUS online: “Since our time together at ARD, I have had a friendly, collegial relationship with Patricia Schlesinger – she at the time at NDR, I at BR.” This included meetings. “Due to our similar professional orientation and the origin of our friendship, our conversations are always a mixture of professional and private topics.” So even the obvious friend can not confirm Schlesinger’s version.
Somewhat cryptically, Reitz also adds that she hopes that the allegations made can be clarified in a timely manner. That’s exactly what the Berlin public prosecutor’s office is now taking care of, who are investigating the complex of opaque consulting contracts, luxury expenses and dinner because of the initial suspicion of taking advantage and infidelity. exit open.
On the other hand, it is certain that another personality, who was always present in previous reports on the lists of participants of the Schlesinger dinner, was actually not there at all. The former Berlin Secretary of State for Culture and Head of State Chancellery André Schmitz (SPD) made it unmistakably clear to FOCUS Online on the phone: “I was never with Mrs. Schlesinger for dinner.”
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