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ARD boss Tom Buhrow: "This crisis also affects ARD"
Photo: Oliver Berg/ DPA
In view of the affair surrounding the resigned RBB director and ARD boss Patricia Schlesinger, ARD wants to strengthen the supervision of all broadcasters.
WDR director Tom Buhrow, who took over the business at the top of the ARD, said in an interview with the German Press Agency: "We check whether the offices of the supervisory authority are adequately equipped throughout the ARD."
Buhrow also said when asked how big the loss of reputation for the ARD and the entire public service broadcaster is as a result of the Schlesinger affair: "It's not yet foreseeable, but I'm not talking around it: This crisis also affects the ARD - After all, the RBB is a member of the ARD." The ARD boss added: "That's why it's my job now that we in the ARD analyze and tackle the conclusions." Buhrow also said: "We're all disappointed in the ARD now and also angry.
Because all broadcasters came under general suspicion, as did thousands of employees who do a good job every day - including the RBB employees who now uphold the journalistic honor of the RBB.«
Patricia Schlesinger has been exposed to numerous allegations of nepotism for weeks.
In addition to the 61-year-old, who resigned as ARD and RBB boss in the affair, the focus is also on the chief inspector Wolf-Dieter Wolf, who has also resigned from the broadcaster.
It is also about questionable orders for Schlesinger's husband at Messe Berlin, where the chief controller was also the head of the supervisory board until his resignation there.
The question is whether Schlesinger could have dealt too laxly with Wolf in the event of possible conflicts of interest.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating Schlesinger, her husband and ex-SPIEGEL editor Spörl and Wolf on initial suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits.
mik/dpa-AFX
