President v press

An effort by beleaguered German President Christian Wulff to improve his media image appeared to backfire, if much of the country's press is to be believed. Reports that the president had threatened the mass-circulation daily Bild over its investigation into his cheap home loan had already earned the German head of state a certain amount of scorn from the newspaper world. An interview on prime time television did little to help matters.

The Essen-based Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung wrote that the president was no longer capable of fulfilling his role, and claimed that his nomination for the position by Chancellor Angela Merkel had been a mistake in the first place. "Through his mistakes, Christian Wulff has seriously limited his own possibilities and harmed his office. He is not up to the office of head of state and has only himself to blame. That is something that has not changed through his appearance on television. After the failed side-door entry of (previous president Horst) Köhler, the chancellor was looking for a professional politician who she could rely on in terms of seriousness and overall style. From Wulff, she had expected that there would be no slip-ups. That was a mistake. He is a president who asks for understanding and forgiveness," said the newspaper. The commentary ended with a withering assessment of the president's situation. "He is a president who in the end must absolve himself because no-one else does. It is something that makes one embarrassed for him."

Left-leaning, Berlin- based Tageszeitung was no less damning. "If you get caught with your trousers down, then the question no longer applies as to whether you can gracefully explain the situation," wrote the newspaper. "Some things cannot be justified convincingly. And the attempt to control an unmanageable situation does not improve things. What was he thinking of by trying to outline his way of looking at the situation by, of all things, speaking to carefully selected interviewers? It only goes to strengthen the impression that, for him - irrespective of the people and media involved - press freedom has little significance. In terms of content, Wulff said nothing new and instead appealed for compassion. 'The whole village,' in which he lived, he said, had been 'shocked' by the revelations. He had no time to time to prepare for his office as president. It had been necessary for him to put himself 'before his family.' All of this is garbage."

The online arm of German news magazine Der Spiegel attempted to deliver a hefty portion of cynicism with its assessment of the president's efforts, and the media frenzy as a whole. "Honesty, that's what the Christian Wulff affair is all about," began the newspaper. "Okay, let's be honest. Christian Wulff is a mediocre politician who has some pretty mediocre problems which, to some extent have been spun out in a mediocre way and which he now - in a fairly mediocre style, has tried to put right once and for all on television. Welcome to Germany in 2012." Spiegel Online continued with its derision. "Wulff's appearance on prime time ARD and ZDF had a frightfully banal quality. On show was not a presidential figure of light but rather a president who was literally begging for mercy. Instead of really explaining himself, he feigned transparency, openness and honesty - for 25 minutes. That is not even state theater, it is more like the Osnabrück Puppet Theater."

The regional newspaper Neue Rhein Zeitung expressed exasperation, dismissing the interview outright. "Another explanation, another apology – yet another Wulff moment. Stale, half-hearted, little statesmanship. And once again, a lack of style that is so typical of Wulff. Why could the president not give a government press conference? Instead he granted an exclusive audience to public service television. No, this personal statement in a television interview was not a deliverance, rather an extension of the torture."

Another regional, the Wetzlarer Neue Zeitung claimed that the television interview had done little to dispel doubts, adding that one question would always haunt presidency. "That should have been it," wrote the newspaper. "An interview at prime time on German television's two main channels. And again an apology. On Friday, the president will receive carol singers at the Bellevue Palace, as if nothing has happened. But wasn't there something? That is the question that will accompany Christian Wulff from now on during his time in office. No matter what he says. Whether it is about the solidity of society or the importance of saving. Whether it is about constitutional rights, the integrity of politicians or honesty in general. The question will constantly arise: 'Wasn't there something?'"

The conservative daily newspaper Die Welt was less scathing in its appraisal, calling for Wulff to exercise better judgment in future. Still the mood was far from sympathetic. "Wulff has the necessary perseverance as he proved in his television appearance. It was not a consistently masterful performance," said the newspaper. "Wulff once again uttered an apology, this time for his way of dealing with the press. The country could have been spared another round of apologies. Instead, the president could show what qualities he still possesses. It is to be hoped that Wulff can have the wisdom to gauge what is prudent when he comes under severe pressure in future. He has only one chance."

Author: Arndt Riekmann / rc
Editor: Andy Valvur