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Thuringia's Prime Minister Ramelow (Die Linke)
Photo: Jacob Schröter / imago images / Jacob Schröter
When the prime ministers talk to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) about the corona policy every two to three weeks, little remains hidden from the public.
So much is now seeping out to journalists from the video channels that participants jokingly suggest that the rounds should be broadcast live on television.
Then at least every viewer could get their own picture.
Of course, this proposal is not meant to be serious.
But just last Tuesday it became clear how little confidential the often heated debates with the Chancellor are.
Thuringia's regional chief Bodo Ramelow has now gone one better.
In a discussion on Friday evening by the social media app Clubhouse, the left-wing politician spoke frankly about the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK).
According to participants, the SPD Vice President Kevin Kühnert asked who was playing Candy Crush in the MPK.
SPIEGEL reported on this in November without naming any names.
Ramelow's answer: That is himself, he can manage "up to ten levels" during an MPK.
Elsewhere he called the Chancellor "the little Merkel".
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's state chief Manuela Schwesig (SPD) tried to slow down Ramelow and change the subject.
Vain.
A short time later, Ramelow's quotes became public on Twitter.
The "Welt am Sonntag" reported on Saturday evening - and incurred the anger of the left-wing politician.
He complains that individual set pieces from the round have been torn out of context.
Recording and transcribing conversations from the social network is actually prohibited according to the general terms and conditions of the app.
But did Ramelow really think that he could have a background discussion with hundreds of listeners as with a small circle of journalists?
Ramelow told the editorial network Germany (RND) on Sunday that the app had made him curious.
“I've tried it.
And it was great. ”He doesn't regret the evening, says Ramelow.
"But I was immediately shown the limits."
Ramelow misjudged the situation
In any case, the public impression he gives with his quotes is devastating.
Without context, it sounds like Ramelow doesn't take MPK very seriously.
The group makes decisions that change the lives of everyone in the Federal Republic of Germany.
However, participants in the discussion at Clubhouse report that they did not understand Ramelow that way.
He has repeatedly made his concern about the drama of the corona crisis clear.
His colleagues from other federal states also say that Ramelow cannot be denied that he is serious about the fight against the pandemic.
The problem is, however: Ramelow misjudged the situation.
As a politician, he always moves in public spaces, especially in a social network with thousands of participants.
Clubhouse does give its users the feeling of being out and about in private.
But Ramelow should actually be professional enough to know what impact his words can have.
Another question is how the operators actually deal with violating their terms and conditions.
According to media journalist Daniel Bouhs, the Clubhouse terms and conditions state that all participants must agree in writing to recordings of conversations so that they can be used.
In the case of quotes from the rounds, however, the regulation is not so clear.
It is likely that the public interest will be rated higher than the terms and conditions of the app before German courts, said Bouhs.
"Then the clubhouse is taboo for politicians"
However, it could happen that Clubhouse block individual users.
"Defending yourself against it could be difficult," says Bouhs.
After all, the operators of the app are based in the USA.
"Clubhouse is on a stand like Facebook ten years ago."
Ramelow also formulated expectations of the operators on Sunday.
They have to understand »the hype they have triggered in Germany and draw their conclusions from it,« he told the RND.
"If I have to bring my government spokesman with me, then the clubhouse is taboo for politicians."
This sentence also says more about Ramelow than about the app.
Assistance: Timo Lehmann
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