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€250,000 Fine or 6 Months Imprisonment – City Council Chairman Ekkart Günther Continues Fighting Against Democracy and Press FreedomThe chairman of the Weißenfels city council, Ekkart Günther, has obtained a court injunction without oral hearing from the Weißenfels District Court, prohibiting the video recording of the city council meeting on November 7, 2024, from being shown any further. Violation of this order threatens a fine of up to €250,000 or 6 months imprisonment. 
As previously reported, the mayor of Weißenfels, Martin Papke, and the city council chairman, Ekkart Günther, had hired a lawyer to take action against the publication of the video recording of the city council meeting on November 7, 2024. Numerous council members did not want to be seen or heard in the video, including chairman Ekkart Günther, who led the meeting. Papke and Günther claimed to represent the city council. However, this was not the case. There was no city council resolution authorizing Günther and Papke to take such action. Consequently, the video was put online again. Mayor Martin Papke Opted Out – Günther Pressed OnHowever, the video had to be taken offline again because Ekkart Günther alone, through the same law firm Fehse & Szabó, obtained an injunction from the Weißenfels District Court stating that upon re-publication of the video, a fine of up to €250,000 would be imposed or 6 months imprisonment if the fine could not be paid. This injunction was issued without an oral hearing. It was claimed there was an urgent need for action.Since Ekkart Günther now leads this fight alone against democracy, transparency, and press freedom, it can be assumed that it was determined that the previous approach was unlawful. Strange that lawyer Fehse did not recognize this. No More Video Recordings of City Council Meetings Ever?According to Günther’s application, this should also apply to future publications. Hence, there can never again be a video recording of a city council meeting as soon as Günther or any other council member objects. Or it would have to be a heavily edited version where all statements by Ekkart Günther would be cut out — including his entire moderation and the naming of citizens publicly asking questions. This can certainly be called absurd.Günther demands that he neither be seen nor heard in such video recordings. He claims personal rights to be protected — especially the right to his own image and words, which he insists on applying even to public city council meetings. The inevitable question is: what does he fear if his face and words from a public city council meeting are shared publicly via video? A quick Google search reveals plenty of images of and with Ekkart Günther. Mentality Stuck in the GDR?The application states that I am not a journalist and do not have a press card. It is truly astonishing that 35 years after reunification some minds still haven't grasped that no press card is needed to work journalistically. At most, proof of journalistic activity is required. Günther and his lawyer Fehse seem to be demanding an institution that legitimizes who is allowed to work journalistically — just like in the GDR, and also in the Third Reich.On the other hand, Günther and his lawyer Fehse acknowledge that several of my articles have been published on buergerstimme.net. Thus, they themselves have provided proof of journalistic activity. What satire is allowed! False Claims to the CourtThe application states that video and audio recordings of city council meetings are not permitted. This is a clear falsehood lawyer Fehse submitted to the court. One could even call it a lie because the opposite is true. Video recordings are generally allowed. Only if a “legitimate individual case” is claimed can that part of the city council meeting be cut out. The application contains not a single word explaining why Ekkart Günther or the other council members should be considered such “legitimate individual cases,” especially since Günther led the entire city council meeting.Lawfare – The Fight Against Democracy, Press Freedom, and TransparencyIn the lawyer’s application on behalf of Ekkart Günther, it is stated that council members Christopher Hesselbarth, Beatrix Schierhorn, Michael Spengler, Angela Braune, Beate Schlegel, Walter Wolter, Heidi Föhre, Jana Loth, Mike Koch-Frischleder, Jörg Riemer, Sandy Scheunpflug, Silke Krause, Johannes Kunze, Dr. med. Burcin Özüyaman, and Horst Ziegler could or will obtain a similar injunction. In my opinion, this is clearly the principle of lawfare. Lawfare is a combination of law and warfare. It attempts to intimidate and silence critical media with such methods. The goal here is likely that only favorable reports from non-critical media get published.Notably, those city council members opposing the publication belong to the CDU and SPD — the very parties that like to call themselves democratic and earlier this year protested against the right wing, claiming a threat to democracy from the right. Can someone explain to these council members what democracy actually means? More Questions Naturally AriseWhy are these people city council members, and to whom are they accountable before and after their election?Why did the council members campaign with their photos everywhere before the election, courting voters’ favor, and why are their faces now not allowed to be shown publicly in public city council meetings? Do council members stand by their decisions, or do they prefer to vote secretly and unseen? The Role of the PressIn a true democracy, the press has the task of acting as the fourth power, critically scrutinizing politicians and exercising a kind of control function. This is exactly what Ekkart Günther, as a pioneer, but also Christopher Hesselbarth, Beatrix Schierhorn, Michael Spengler, Angela Braune, Beate Schlegel, Walter Wolter, Heidi Föhre, Jana Loth, Mike Koch-Frischleder, Jörg Riemer, Sandy Scheunpflug, Silke Krause, Johannes Kunze, Dr. med. Burcin Özüyaman, and Horst Ziegler obviously do not want. They apparently want no democracy, no transparency, and no accountability. They want to keep citizens — and even their own voters — completely in the dark about why and how they decide on issues and how they argue.An Attack on the Liberal Democratic OrderThus, the actions of Ekkart Günther and the other council members represent a clear attack on press freedom and the liberal democratic order. From my point of view, such people are completely unsuitable for the function of city council members. I again call for new elections.Anyone who has such a big problem with public scrutiny should not run for public office. Each council member is also free to resign and leave the office to someone who truly cares about democracy. Standing Firm for the Liberal Democratic Order with All Our StrengthAt this point, I would like to quote the widely respected district administrator Götz Ulrich (CDU), who said in the district council on March 11, 2024: "We all know who has used such instruments of intimidation, repression, and threats, and where such things can lead... But as a Christian, I firmly believe that you and your helpers will eventually be held accountable. Until that time comes, I tell you: I will stand firm against these Nazi methods and continue to fight with all my strength for the liberal democratic order wherever it becomes necessary."Your Support Is Now More Important Than EverTo have the preliminary injunction lifted and to clear the way for future video recordings of city council meetings and such, a court challenge and objection must now be filed. This will be done through a lawyer. Your support is needed for this.If you have a few euros to spare and want to support the fight for democracy, press freedom, transparency for the citizens, and the continued existence of Bürgerstimme, you will find bank details and a PayPal link further down. Every euro helps prevent Ekkart Günther, as the forerunner of the other council members, from winning his fight against democracy. Thank you very much! Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | 04.12.2024 |
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