The board of directors of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) wants to review its working methods in view of the affair surrounding the resigned director Patricia Schlesinger. Acting chairwoman Dorette König told the German Press Agency on Saturday that the committee would very critically question its way of working and the division of topics within the board of directors.
The online medium “Business Insider” had previously reported that there had also been preliminary talks before committee meetings, for which no minutes were said to have been kept. In addition, there should be confidential special reports in addition to the station’s annual reports, and Schlesinger’s entire salary should also be listed in a paper. So far, the amount of bonus payments is not known.
A spokesman for the public broadcaster ARD said about the media report: “There were preliminary meetings with parts of the board of directors, we cannot provide any information about the content.” König announced that she would not stick to this practice, but with the Committee wanted to advise on how efficient preparation for meetings should look like in the future.
The spokesman also said that the preliminary meetings served to coordinate current developments at short notice since the agenda was sent and the meeting’s time management. “They didn’t have any other focal points.”
The broadcaster also said that the RBB state contract does not provide for the publication of an annual report. The subject of annual reports is firmly on the table.
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 controller Wolf-Dieter Wolf of the broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, who has also resigned. 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 public prosecutor’s office in Berlin is now investigating against Schlesinger, her husband and ex-“Spiegel” journalists Gerhard Spörl and Wolf because of the initial suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits.
The whole case also involves details such as an expensive company car, meals with guests in Schlesinger’s private apartment at RBB’s expense with allegedly false bills, a hefty salary increase to 303,000 euros plus bonuses that have not yet been named. Schlesinger’s trip to London was also questioned.
