Reactions to Döpfner’s statements: “Treated like dirt”

“History forgotten”, “disrespectful”, “defamatory”: Especially in East Germany, the outrage over the published chat messages and emails from Springer boss Döpfner is great.

What Mathias Döpfner wrote in chat messages or emails according to the revelations in “Zeit” leaves little room for interpretation: For example, that “Ossis” are “either communists or fascists”. “In between they don’t do it. Disgusting.” And that’s just one quote from many.

According to “Zeit”, another claim by the Springer CEO is that East Germans would never become democrats, and Döpfner refers to his mother of all people. Another time he proposes turning the former GDR into an agricultural and production zone with a standard wage.

wave of outrage

The chairman of the board has since declared that he has no prejudices whatsoever against people from eastern Germany. In addition, the quotes should be snippets of text and conversation taken out of context. An attempt at damage limitation. There has long been a wave of outrage.

Paula Piechotta, member of the Bundestag for the Greens from Leipzig says: In her opinion, all East Germans have heard derogatory remarks 100 times. Either in the West or even in the East, by their bosses, who mostly came from West Germany. Piechotta analyzes that the prejudices à la Döpfner have tangible consequences: “Because these prejudices mean that East Germans are not trusted. And that’s why East Germans who are qualified can’t have a career. And that’s why we as East Germans in the East Germans elites are also significantly underrepresented.”

Döpfner oblivious to history?

CDU MP Sepp Müller from Saxony-Anhalt also sees it that way. Müller is particularly annoyed that Döpfner denies the democratic attitude of the people between the Baltic Sea and Saxon Switzerland. Müller calls this oblivion of history because it ignores the merits of the people who fought for democracy with the peaceful revolution.

Müller reminds that there were also right-wing parties such as the Republicans or the DVU in western Germany. He hopes that the AfD’s successes will not last long because many people in the East would only vote for the AfD in protest. According to his reading, the protest is primarily directed against the inequality of wealth and income.

apology requested

For SPD MP Erik von Malottki, the Springer boss’s statements above all show disrespect and ignorance. Malottki demands an apology from Döpfner to the East Germans. Because most people in his home country of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania would think and vote democratically. He’s sure of that, he says – and refers to the election results.

For Tino Chrupalla from the AfD, Döpfner’s statements show the “arrogance that bothers East Germans about some West Germans”. The East Germans are neither communists nor fascists, but they don’t seek their fortune in “submission to the global West”.

The left, which is particularly strong in the East, also condemns the Döpfner quotes. Bodo Ramelow, Prime Minister of Thuringia, is outraged that “the people who fought for unity are being treated like dirt”. Party leader Martin Schirdewan goes one step further: He even calls on the East Germans to boycott the “Bild” newspaper until Dopfner has vacated his post.

“Defames an Entire Population”

Jan Hollitzer, editor-in-chief of the “Thüringer Allgemeine”, is also clear. “Mr. Döpfner defames an entire population group, he insults a large part of the country. That is unworthy of such an influential media manager.” He told the “t-online” news portal: “As an East German Springer employee, I would have serious concerns. Working for a boss with such an attitude can’t be easy.”

The Federal Government Commissioner for the East, Carsten Schneider, SPD, considers the CEO of the Springer Group to be unacceptable. This is not only due to the derogatory sayings towards the East. Schneider accuses Döpfner of despising a whole group of people, namely East Germans. In addition, Döpfner tries to influence elections. Schneider’s conclusion: “As a shareholder, I would make a clear decision and that is to fire Mr. Döpfner.”