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“Ossi” insult – Eastern countries criticize Springer boss
Said to be derogatory towards East Germans: Springer boss Mathias Döpfner. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
The outrage about Mathias Döpfner is great, especially in eastern Germany. “The ossis will never be democrats,” the Springer boss is said to have written in an SMS. The country leaders react sharply.
The criticism from the circle of East German Prime Ministers at Axel Springer boss Mathias Döpfner because of alleged derogatory remarks about East Germans is getting louder.
The Brandenburg head of state Dietmar Woidke (SPD) said: “Mr. Döpfner’s derogatory statements cannot be justified. It is significant and shocking that the CEO of the largest German publishing group over 33 years after the fall of the Wall apparently knows so little about the people in his Adopted home here in Brandenburg and East Germany knows.”
The weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” reported on the alleged internal news on Thursday. Below this quote was listed, which was reproduced including spelling mistakes and is said to come from Döpfner in 2019: “The ossis will never be democrats. Perhaps the former GDR should be turned into an agricultural and production zone with a standard wage.”
Schwesig: Sign of great disrespect
There was also clear criticism of Döpfner from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig. The peaceful revolution in 1989 was an achievement of the people in East Germany, emphasized the SPD politician in Schwerin. Many would then have had to rebuild their lives because they were affected by unemployment, for example. “To underestimate the achievements of the people in the East is a sign of great disrespect.” Incidentally, the majority of voters in the East voted for a democratic party.
Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) had already criticized the head of the media company, which has the brands “Bild” and “Welt” in its portfolio, on Thursday. On “t-online” he accused Döpfner of never having achieved German unity intellectually – each of his lines lived the spirit of division.
In a reaction to the “Zeit” article, Springer boss Döpfner had emphasized in a company intranet post: “Of course I have no prejudices against people from East Germany. But for decades I have been disappointed and worried that quite a few voters swung from far left to far right in the new federal states.” The success of the AfD worried him.
“Time” article