A scheduled interview with the leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, Bärbel Bas, conducted by public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, was accompanied by a demonstration in the vicinity of the Reichstag building. The protest was organized by Nuklearia, a pro-nuclear energy group, who successfully positioned themselves within visual range of the television set-up on a second attempt.
During the interview itself, the demonstration remained largely peaceful, with protesters refraining from disruptive noise. According to a reporter from the dts news agency, an estimated 10 to 15 individuals participated in the demonstration and a significant police presence was maintained at the location.
The demonstration follows a similar attempt a week earlier, which was unsuccessful due to ARD unexpectedly beginning the recording of an interview with the co-leader of the Green Party, Felix Banaszak, earlier than anticipated. ARD also opted to forego a live internet broadcast and a standard press conference, citing “security reasons” according to a spokesperson for ARD’s capital studio, as reported by dts.
The timing of the production was kept confidential by ARD’s capital studio, a decision stemming from an incident during a “Summer Interview” with Alice Weidel in mid-July. On that occasion, the activist group “Center for Political Beauty” deployed a vehicle equipped with a loudspeaker, significantly disrupting the broadcast.
