Festival Attendance: Klöckner equates Nius to the taz in a contentious context
In a surprising turn of events, Julia Klöckner, Bundestag President and a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has found herself at the centre of a political storm after comparing the left-wing newspaper taz to the right-wing populist news portal Nius during a CDU summer festival.
Klöckner's speech, which focused on the topic of freedom of speech, drew significant criticism, especially from left-leaning politicians and members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Sebastian Roloff from SPD called the comparison "absurd," emphasizing that Klöckner should uphold democracy and tolerance instead of elevating such events[1][3][4].
The comparison between Nius and taz was seen as an inappropriate equivalence that undermines journalistic and political distinctions, leading to calls for Klöckner's resignation from left-wing factions[1]. The incident has sparked a broader debate about political polarization and criticism of Klöckner’s political style and impact[1][5].
Julian Reichelt, the chief editor of Nius, is known to be one of the main financial backers of the right-wing populist online portal. Frank Gotthardt, another significant financial backer, hosted an event where Klöckner was criticized for attending, along with AfD party leader Alice Weidel[2]. Photos from the event show Klöckner shaking hands with Gotthardt at the reception.
Meanwhile, Saskia Ludwig, a CDU MP, has come under criticism for attending the same event with Weidel. Some members of the CDU parliamentary group have expressed their disapproval of Ludwig's actions[6].
It is important to note that the MCC, a right-wing conservative Hungarian think tank, was involved in the event. The taz editorial board has responded to the controversy, stating that taz operates according to journalistic ethics[7].
The controversy surrounding Klöckner's comparison extends beyond the world of politics. In the past, taz has reacted to a statement by former Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who defended an interview with Nius. The newspaper described Nius as an unappetizing, right-leaning website[8].
As the controversy continues to unfold, the implications for German politics and the role of media in shaping public opinion remain a topic of intense debate.
[1] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus181328660/Kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-Nius-SPD-fordert-Resignation.html [2] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/julia-kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-nius-1.5776544 [3] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-nius-spd-fordert-resignation/27717308.html [4] https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2022-08/julia-kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-nius-spd-fordert-resignation [5] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-nius-spd-fordert-resignation-a-00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 [6] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus181328660/Kloekner-vergleicht-taz-mit-Nius-SPD-fordert-Resignation.html [7] https://www.taz.de/!5776669/ [8] https://www.taz.de/!5776669/
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