Olympian defends speech
Merz found Pechstein’s CDU appearance “brilliant”
06/18/2023, 7:31 p.m
Speed skater Claudia Pechstein speaks at a CDU convention on Saturday. She completes her appearance in a police uniform, although officials are subject to the duty of neutrality. Party leader Merz brushes off criticism, and the Olympian herself speaks up.
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz rejected criticism of the Olympian Claudia Pechstein after a speech by the speed skater in a police uniform at an event of his party. “The performance was brilliant,” said Merz on the ZDF program “Berlin direct”. Pechstein said from her experience how important clubs and popular sports are. This statement interests him and not the exterior, said Merz. The content “was really interesting and it also motivated us a bit to continue working in this direction,” says Merz.
Pechstein is a federal police officer. She appeared in a police uniform at a CDU convention in Berlin on Saturday, sparking debates over the weekend. Civil servants are subject to the duty of neutrality under civil servant law. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior declined to comment. The federal police have meanwhile initiated an administrative examination, as a spokesman said.
In her speech, Pechstein advocated strengthening club and school sport. She also called for the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. This ensures more security in everyday life. Being able to use public transport “without fearful looks” is one of the problems that particularly affects older people and women. Improvements there should be more important “than thinking about whether we should put a gender asterisk or whether a concert can still be called a German recital or whether it’s still allowed to order a gypsy schnitzel,” said Pechstein.
Pechstein: “It’s an honor to wear this uniform”
Pechstein defended her appearance in the “Bild” newspaper. “I’m not a member of the CDU. I was a guest at the CDU – as an athlete, civil servant and federal police officer,” she said. There is also no “express ban on wearing uniforms at party events”. “I’m proud to have been a federal police officer for 30 years. It’s an honor for me to wear this uniform. I would wear it again,” Pechstein continued.
According to her own statement, she asked a union representative and supervisor in advance. The appearance was left to her, she is quoted in the newspaper. She also got positive feedback. She had been asked to give further impetus for the new basic program of the CDU. “The fact that there were some suggestions that met with great approval from the population is shown by the numerous positive messages that have reached me in the meantime. Thank you very much for that,” said Pechstein of “Bild”.
Criticism of appearance in uniform
The parliamentary director of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, who is herself a police officer, questioned the legality of Pechstein’s appearance. “In my opinion, Claudia Pechstein’s appearance in uniform at a party event is not compatible with applicable civil service obligations,” Mihalic told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau from the left wrote on Twitter: “I’ve been dealing with civil servants and disciplinary law for 25 years, not just in the interior committee, there’s also party financing and stuff – this process is beyond any tolerable possibility.”
Pechstein won the gold medal five times at the Olympic Winter Games. The winter sportswoman ran for the CDU in Berlin in the federal election in 2021, but did not enter parliament.