After Claudia Pechstein’s appearance in a federal police uniform at the CDU convention, criticism was raised. The police union considers him problematic, among other things for reasons of neutrality.
The police union has criticized the controversial appearance of the speed skater Claudia Pechstein at the CDU convention, where she gave a speech in a federal police uniform. The chairman of the union responsible for the federal police, Andreas Roßkopf, considers the situation to be problematic – even if it should finally be confirmed that Pechstein had permission to wear the uniform at the party event.
“We as police officers are subject to the duty of neutrality. The statements made by Ms. Pechstein at the CDU policy convention could be understood as those of the federal police. That’s a problem,” Roßkopf told the “Welt”.
Also talk about hot topics
“Since she also commented on issues that are very sensitive and are extremely controversial in our society, it is all the more unfortunate that she did so in uniform,” added Rosskopf. He made a similar statement to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”.
The sportswoman and federal police officer campaigned for a strengthening of club and school sports during her appearance on Saturday. However, she also touched on sensitive issues such as gender language and also warned of the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. Being able to use public transport “without fearful looks” is one of the problems that particularly affects older people and women, she said.
Distance from Pechstein
Bundestag Vice President Yvonne Magwas (CDU) has since distanced herself from the appearance. “At school, the teacher would have said ‘missed topic’ when grading,” Magwas told the “Spiegel”. “Unfortunately, I haven’t heard enough from Ms. Pechstein on the important topics of sport and volunteering.”
Schleswig-Holstein’s education minister and deputy CDU party leader, Karin Prien, praised the “excellent CDU policy convention” on Twitter. “C. Pechstein should contribute her perspective on sports and volunteering,” Prien wrote on Twitter. She told the “Spiegel” that she was disappointed that this appearance now dominated the discussion about the convention and the future of the CDU.
Encouragement from the FDP
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai, on the other hand, does not share the criticism: “I don’t find that problematic, because Ms. Pechstein, as she said, is proud of her role as a police officer. She is proud to be in a police uniform. I can absolutely understand that,” he said on Monday. He thinks everyone, including politicians, should also articulate respect and gratitude towards the police. “I would not exaggerate this discussion now.”
Faeser has not commented yet
Pechstein has defended her choice of clothing and claimed to have previously asked a supervisor and a union representative from the Federal Police to wear the uniform. Your employer has now initiated an examination.
Pechstein’s top employer, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD), said she did not want to publicly evaluate the appearance of the uniform. “I’m having it checked right now,” she said on the sidelines of a visit to Tunis.