"Arena": BDP intends to file a complaint

The reason for the complaint, which BDP President Martin Landolt plans to propose to his parliamentary group on Tuesday, is what the party perceives as under-representation and non-representation in the broadcast, as Schweiz am Sonntag writes in its current issue. Since the "Arena" was relaunched, the BDP has never been considered, complains National Councilor Hans Grunder - this despite the fact that all parties were promised participation according to proportional representation in the normal broadcast. The BDP has already approached SRG and SRF several times about this and, among other things, sought talks with Roger de Weck and Rudolf Matter in the summer. They agreed with them on many points, says Grunder - yet the situation has even worsened since then.

SRF editor-in-chief Tristan Brenn "cannot understand" the accusations. He says Swiss television is doing its best to make Switzerland's party landscape as balanced as possible. "Arena" host Jonas Projer rejects the accusation in no uncertain terms. It is not true that the BDP is not adequately represented. Calculated over the year, the party would be adequately represented - moreover, the BDP would be underrepresented in the main round of the GfS election poll.

Since the SRF statement is unsatisfactory from the BDP's point of view, the matter is now to be referred to the independent complaints authority UBI. According to Landolt, they are satisfied with Projer's moderation style, but not with who he chooses for which topics and when. After all, the program is an "existential platform" before the elections.

"Arrogant approach"

Incidentally, the Green Liberals are also not very happy with the "Arena". GLP President Martin Bäumle, who has reservations about publicly criticizing, "because otherwise you have to fear being cut". Bäumle is particularly bothered by the fact that little consideration is given to the militia system. One is called up without prior request - for example, on the only Friday in the election autumn on which he was permanently unavailable. Hans Grunder also has a hard time in this regard: he once broke off his vacation early after being called up, only to learn on the way back that he was not needed after all. Grunder describes this approach as "arrogant".

That parties try to influence the selection of guests "with pressure and threats" occasionally happens, says moderator Projer. This is countered "politely but firmly. Projer also rejects accusations based on research by Schweiz am Sonntag that many employees have left the "Arena" because of problems with the working atmosphere. The atmosphere in the editorial office is "excellent." (hae/SaS)