Guy Morin critical of BaZ turbulence
On Sunday, Basel’s President of the Government, Guy Morin, also commented on the turmoil surrounding the Basler Zeitung (BaZ). There is a fear that «Italian-style conditions are taking hold,» he said in interviews with the Sunday press regarding the protests in the region.
The protests are an expression of the strong identification of the population with the newspaper, explained Morin (Green Party) in an interview in the NZZ am Sonntag, according to SDA. The decisions made by owners Tito Tettamanti and Martin Wagner in recent weeks and months had not helped to strengthen confidence in the journalistic independence of BaZ. "We were told that they wanted to maintain an independent newspaper from Basel," Morin also explained in the Sonntagszeitung. However, the company headquarters were moved to Zug, a consultancy mandate was awarded to a former Federal Councillor and SVP Vice-President, who is highly polarizing in Basel, and his biographer from Zurich was chosen as Editor-in-Chief. He had no objections to the entrepreneurial decision to award a consultancy mandate. However, he understood the many people who wondered whether this was still a Basel newspaper, said Morin. He also understands the reaction of the BaZ editorial team.
In the interviews, Morin also referred to the importance of cross-border commuters and the EU for Basel. Basel and its economy need openness, and it needs a newspaper that represents and promotes this openness, he said in the NZZ am Sonntag. BaZ is also the newspaper for many people as far away as southern Baden and Alsace, he told the Sonntagszeitung. These people were "offended when the BaZ recently took a very critical stance on the EU". There are inquiries from regional authorities on the other side of the border.
As part of its regular talks with companies in the region, the government will also meet with the owners of BaZ. According to Morin, the issues in question will be addressed there.
In the interviews, Morin also referred to the importance of cross-border commuters and the EU for Basel. Basel and its economy need openness, and it needs a newspaper that represents and promotes this openness, he said in the NZZ am Sonntag. BaZ is also the newspaper for many people as far away as southern Baden and Alsace, he told the Sonntagszeitung. These people were "offended when the BaZ recently took a very critical stance on the EU". There are inquiries from regional authorities on the other side of the border.
As part of its regular talks with companies in the region, the government will also meet with the owners of BaZ. According to Morin, the issues in question will be addressed there.
