Leuenberger allegedly steered Roger de Weck's election
It came as a surprise to many that Roger de Weck was elected as the new SRG director. Media Minister Moritz Leuenberger is said to have influenced the election.
There are many indications that Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger was behind de Weck's election to head SRG, writes the Sonntagszeitung in its latest edition. This is despite the fact that the Board of Directors is now solely responsible. Leuenberger is said to have met with Roger de Weck in the Schiffbau restaurant in Zurich. The Media Minister had previously told the Board of Directors that he wanted to meet the two remaining candidates, de Weck and Publigroupe CEO Hans-Peter Rohner. However, Rohner, who openly criticized the election process in the Mittelland newspaper, never received an invitation, even though the Board of Directors had announced it to him. According to the Sonntagszeitung newspaper, Leuenberger is said to have said "Now it's coming along nicely".
Requirements profile adapted
At that time, the requirements profile for the future SRG director was also changed. Armin Walpen's successor was actually supposed to be a classic manager, "a strong leader with broad-based business expertise". The requirements were then changed at the beginning of May: On the initiative of the four-member search committee and after internal discussion, the BoD agreed to soften the profile. "We made a certain shift in emphasis, the journalistic component was weighted higher compared to the tender," committee member Viktor Baumeler confirmed to the Sonntagszeitung.
Media minister denies interference
Leuenberger denied direct interference to the Sunday publication. However, spokesman Daniel Bach admits that the media minister was informed about the two latest candidates - this was "nothing but natural". And since both the Federal Councillor and his good acquaintance de Weck "regularly attend cultural events" in Zurich, they would "coincidentally meet again and again". SRG President Münch also insists: "Federal Councillor Leuenberger was neither directly nor indirectly involved in the proceedings."
Requirements profile adapted
At that time, the requirements profile for the future SRG director was also changed. Armin Walpen's successor was actually supposed to be a classic manager, "a strong leader with broad-based business expertise". The requirements were then changed at the beginning of May: On the initiative of the four-member search committee and after internal discussion, the BoD agreed to soften the profile. "We made a certain shift in emphasis, the journalistic component was weighted higher compared to the tender," committee member Viktor Baumeler confirmed to the Sonntagszeitung.
Media minister denies interference
Leuenberger denied direct interference to the Sunday publication. However, spokesman Daniel Bach admits that the media minister was informed about the two latest candidates - this was "nothing but natural". And since both the Federal Councillor and his good acquaintance de Weck "regularly attend cultural events" in Zurich, they would "coincidentally meet again and again". SRG President Münch also insists: "Federal Councillor Leuenberger was neither directly nor indirectly involved in the proceedings."
