ARD and ZDF report on the new Italian election winner, Giorgia Melorni, without any facts. There is talk of a fascist government and Meloni’s hostility towards the European Commission. The fact that Meloni, with her occupations in economic and foreign policy, flew a pro-European course is left out.
Sunday
Only displeasure came from Rome. Those who wanted to find out more about the new government of the Italian election winner Giorgia Meloni on ARD or ZDF were disappointed. Both stations offered opinions instead of facts. The correspondents from ARD and ZDF expressed their indignation about the direction of the new government in striking unison.
They spoke of Mussolini, fascism and Meloni’s hostility towards the European Commission in Brussels. Only in passing did they mention the composition of the new government, which was the topic of the day. Fortunately, there are daily newspapers that report extensively on the new cabinet.
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We can read there that Meloni is pursuing a pro-European and transatlantic course with her appointments in economic and foreign policy. She has appointed several ministers who are well connected in Brussels. She took over Economics and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti from the previous cabinet of her predecessor Draghi.
She has appointed Antonio Tajani, who is an old acquaintance in Brussels, as foreign minister. He was EU Commissioner for six years and headed the EU Parliament as President from 2017 to 2019. In this office he succeeded the German Social Democrat Martin Schulz. Also noteworthy is Meloni’s choice for the new interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi. She appointed the previous prefect and police chief of the capital Rome, who does not belong to any party.
This information about the third largest partner in the EU is important for the German audience. That’s why ARD and ZDF have their own studios in Rome. Their employees should remember that they are mainly responsible for facts.
Monday
The otherwise hesitant Olaf Scholz is strangely careless when it comes to his former residence in Hamburg. As soon as he forgot or repressed his close contacts with the Warburg Bank in the Cum-Ex affair, he became conspicuous in the port of Hamburg.
FDP and Greens and important federal ministries warn against the participation of a Chinese shipping company in a container terminal of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG. The chancellor has no qualms. He would give Beijing a strategic influence ominously reminiscent of dependence on Russian gas.
Tuesday
Tübingen has only 90,000 inhabitants and is not a big city. Nevertheless, the mayoral election was observed throughout Germany. Defending champion Boris Palmer ran as an independent candidate against his Green Party and won the first ballot with an absolute majority of 52.4 percent of the vote. The opponent set up by his green party only managed 22 percent.
Now everyone is praising Boris Palmer. I commend the citizens of Tübingen. Because of their commitment and because of their attitude. 62.6 percent went to the polls. This is a sensationally high turnout for local elections. And more than half of the voters refused to be influenced by the Green Party’s threats of expulsion and voted for the oddball Palmer. Sometimes a fool, but always efficient.
FOCUS founding editor-in-chief Helmut Markwort has been a FDP member of the Bavarian state parliament since 2018.
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