Laschet rejects power word in the direction of Maaßen

CDU politician Maaßen accuses journalists of "manipulating opinions" and sees links to the left-wing extremist scene in the public media.

Laschet does not want to speak a word of power.

Berlin - The CDU chairman Armin Laschet rejects a power word in the direction of the controversial Bundestag candidate Hans-Georg Maaßen.

"I just do not intend to upgrade every comment that he makes in the course of the next few weeks by positioning myself against it," said the Union Chancellor candidate on Wednesday evening in the series of talks "Brigitte live".

Maaßen was formerly President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and is a direct candidate for the CDU in a constituency in southern Thuringia. He had recently caused outrage by accusing the public service media of tendentious reporting: "I no longer see the balance of the reporting," he told the broadcaster tv.Berlin. There is a "clear left twist". Maaßen spoke of connections between editorial staff and the left-wing extremist scene and brought an "NDR committee of inquiry" into discussion. On Sunday evening he then emphasized that freedom of the press and broadcasting had constitutional status.

Laschet denied that Maassen's statements lead to a toxic climate. "He revised that in the evening." The position of the Union on public broadcasting is crystal clear. “At a time like now, when there is so much fake news about the pandemic, strong public service broadcasting is important. That is the position of the entire CDU. ”Laschet did not use the name Maassen. But he refused to let such statements determine the topics. "I think we have other topics in Germany at the moment than those that the candidate mentioned."

“What does a power word mean?” Asked Laschet. He said: "This is my position, which I will enforce as Chancellor, the position of the CDU is clear, and whoever gives any interviews is his problem, at least it is not the position of the CDU."