Journalists' association accuses Ulrich Siegmund of intimidating reporters

The ZDF reporter Fabian Köster (31) was at the inaugural state parliament session last week for the “Heute Show” on ZDF and arranged for an interview with AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund. In the course of the conversation, Siegmund asked Köster what he would do if the AfD canceled the state media treaty this year: “Have you already looked for a job?” Siegmund had already reacted similarly at a meeting during the election campaign.

During the filming in the Magdeburg state parliament, Köster was also followed and harassed by a streamer from the YouTube channel “Deutschland Kurier”, as can be seen in a video. “Parliamentary spaces must be places where journalists can work freely and safely,” said DJV chairman Beuster. The DJV calls on those responsible in the state parliaments to ensure the protection of journalistic work.

Incidents during the election campaign

It is not the first time that right-wing streamers have harassed journalists while working around AfD events. Such scenes occurred more frequently, especially during election campaigns before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. In mid-September, the AfD federal executive committee dealt with a resolution against the streamer “Activist Mann”. Accordingly, he should only have access to party events if he “makes a binding commitment in advance not to harass other streamers and journalists”.

When asked, the AfD has not yet commented on the current incidents in the Magdeburg state parliament, where AfD state parliament president Tobias Rausch has house rule. Just a month ago, Fabian Köster was awarded the German Television Prize in the “Best Comedy/Late Night” category.