Actually, "Tagesschau" spokeswoman Judith Rakers (44) alongside Roland Kaiser (67) should moderate this year's Semper Opera Ball on February 7th. But then head of ball Hans-Joachim Frey (54) honored the highly controversial Egyptian ruler Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (65) with the golden order of St. George. During Rakers after this honor via Twitter still openly wondering what that could mean for her moderation of the opera ball, she has now delivered an update – and is now doing everything to get out of the "still binding contract", as she writes on Instagram.
In the past few days, she asked "Semperopernball e.V. to terminate the contract. (…) I have been waiting for the ball club's approval since then, which has not yet taken place." She therefore wants to forego all fees – "also for work already done," it continues.
Colleagues are with her
Backing for her decision will be given by the broadcaster MDR, which will broadcast the event. "We think this honor is wrong and expressly distance ourselves from it. The MDR stands for free and independent journalism, freedom of expression and tolerance. Unfortunately, al-Sisi does not stand for exactly that," reads the MDR website.
Co-moderator Kaiser had also announced consequences after the award to al-Sisi, but he is reported to continue to act as the moderator. A statement was also published on the Opera Ball side, which reads, among other things: "We would like to apologize for this award ceremony (to al-Sisi, editor's note) and distance ourselves from it. The award ceremony was a mistake." It is not yet known who could take over the moderation instead of Rakers.