IIn an almost five-hour session, the RBB Broadcasting Council dismissed Patricia Schlesinger from her position as director with immediate effect in a special session on Monday. The 61-year-old had already declared her resignation a week ago under the pressure of ongoing investigations and had previously given up the ARD chairmanship. Schlesinger had also commented on the allegations in the Broadcasting Council – but her rescue attempt on her own behalf caused irritation.
The Chairwoman of the Broadcasting Council, Friederike von Kirchbach, said in the evening that the dismissal was based on Section 22 (2) of the RBB State Treaty, which makes it possible to resign during the current term of office. In a secret ballot, 22 of the 23 present voted in favor of the immediate separation.
Kirchbach did not want to give details, referring to the ongoing investigations and legal conflicts with the director. Only so much: The relationship of trust with Schlesinger was “permanently destroyed”.
The chair of the control committee continued: “We hope that the Broadcasting Council will make it easier for RBB to come to terms with the past and the current allegations with this decision. At the same time, we are paving the way for a new election. The way for a new start in the station is now clear. Irrespective of this, the Broadcasting Council will critically question its own role and working methods in its upcoming deliberations.” A sign of self-criticism, as the Broadcasting Council reacted defensively and reservedly to the first revelations. The fact that something is going wrong at RBB had to be laboriously conveyed to the inspectors from outside. This shall be changed now.
Termination without notice or “golden handshake”
In the labor law dispute with the dismissed director, the ball is now in the hands of the board of directors, which must decide whether the employment relationship with Schlesinger should be terminated without notice. In this case, the director, whose contract was only extended by five years in 2021, would be denied a million severance payment and continued salary payments within the notice period until February 2023.
The broadcaster could even assert claims for damages. According to an insider, a “golden handshake” for the ex-boss would hardly be conveyable to the workforce. On the other hand, those responsible should also shy away from a lengthy tug-of-war in public processes at the labor courts. There is much to suggest that both sides could end up striving for a settlement.
The Broadcasting Council only said that the committee had “encouraged the RBB Board of Directors in its determination to end the contract with Patricia Schlesinger” – which can certainly be interpreted as a request for the greatest possible labor law harshness. In any case, the so-called “organization” of Schlesinger ends with the dismissal. In other words: as director, the long-time NDR journalist is officially history after six years in the top post at RBB.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating Schlesinger, her husband and former “Spiegel” journalist Spörl, as well as Wolf-Dieter Wolf, the chairman of the board of directors who also resigned last week, on suspicion of infidelity and accepting advantages. The affair involves, among other things, controversial consulting contracts for an RBB construction project that has now been put on hold, an overpriced company car for Schlesinger, dinners in her private apartment that were billed to the broadcaster and an obscure salary increase. All of the accused deny the allegations.
Ex-director provides grotesque explanations for her behavior
Schlesinger, who had previously disappeared publicly for days, also commented on the RBB Broadcasting Council on Monday and also apologized to the broadcaster employees. Excerpts of her defense speech on her own behalf had already become public in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” before the appointment. Several participants in the meeting asserted that they had not had access to the manuscript. The “SZ” quoted Schlesinger as saying: “I overlooked some things, including and especially the displeasure of the employees. I am so very sorry, both professionally and personally.”
She understands, the 61-year-old continues, that the workforce is “dismayed, angry, incensed” and she wants to “explain” and “put things right”. However, the appearance of the ousted changed nothing in the tough course that the committee has now taken in the Schlesinger case.
The RBB boss, who has now been formally dismissed, had used the stage too obviously and offensively for a performance that many of those present felt was self-righteous – and acted as if the affair were mainly about unfortunate misunderstandings.
Schlesinger claimed that with her luxury company car (value 145,000 euros, supplied by the manufacturer with a 70 percent “government discount”), her main concern was not to exceed the maximum flat rate of 500 euros per month. It was not she who benefited from the discount, but the RBB. Further examples: She justified the immense costs for the renovation of her offices with “overdue pollutant and fire protection renovation”. The expensive massage chair was not ordered by her, but to alleviate back pain caused by the pandemic: “In truth, it was suddenly there.”
Schlesinger’s rescue attempt on his own behalf backfired
Schlesinger also provided an idiosyncratic justification for the much-criticized dinner at the broadcaster’s expense in her apartment: the fact that “some guests” remembered the dinner as a purely private event instead of an official meeting was “natural” and quite intentional. She was pursuing the goal of making RBB “more present” among top decision-makers and giving the broadcaster “a face” through meetings in her private environment.
According to statements by participants in the Broadcasting Council meeting, the ex-director finally referred to her working life, which had been part of public broadcasting for more than “three decades”. According to the speech manuscript, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” quotes her as saying: “The fact that I’m leaving now, with damage to the system, is one of the most bitter things about it. May he be healed.” An almost pastoral conclusion by the ex-director, which, according to one participant in the committee, “completely backfired”.
In addition to the Attorney General’s Office, an external compliance law firm as well as a broadcasting and administrative board should be busy for months with the processing. According to von Kirchbach, the Broadcasting Council will meet again in two weeks. Then it will be about Schlesinger’s successor. Who will make the race is currently open.