Press association criticizes German president

The International Press Institute (IPI) criticized Germany’s president following revelations that he had pressured a leading tabloid to kill a critical story. The article concerned an unusual personal loan that he received, the Vienna-based global network of publishers, editors and leading journalists said in a statement on Wednesday. Press association criticizes German president President Christian Wulff faced growing calls to step down after representatives from Bild magazine confirmed that he left Chief Editor Kai Diekmann a menacing voicemail message last month raising the prospect of “war” if the tabloid reported on the loan. Wulff, whose post is largely ceremonial, is said to have later apologized to Diekmann. However, he also reportedly telephoned the magazine’s publisher, the Axel Springer company, in an attempt to prevent the story from being published. Despite the warnings, Bild reported that Wulff, before becoming president in 2010, received a 500,000 euro loan from the wife of close friend Egon Geerkens, a German entrepreneur, at an interest rate below the usual bank rate. Wulff, who was prime minister of Lower Saxony at the time, has denied misleading state deputies about the loan. IPI Executive Board Chairman Dr. Carl-Eugen Eberle, who also heads IPI’s German National Committee, yesterday issued a statement labeling Wulff’s actions unacceptable. Christian Wulff (Beta/AP, file) IPI

Press association criticizes German president

President Christian Wulff faced growing calls to step down after representatives from Bild magazine confirmed that he left Chief Editor Kai Diekmann a menacing voicemail message last month raising the prospect of “war” if the tabloid reported on the loan.

Wulff, whose post is largely ceremonial, is said to have later apologized to Diekmann. However, he also reportedly telephoned the magazine’s publisher, the Axel Springer company, in an attempt to prevent the story from being published.

Despite the warnings, Bild reported that Wulff, before becoming president in 2010, received a 500,000 euro loan from the wife of close friend Egon Geerkens, a German entrepreneur, at an interest rate below the usual bank rate. Wulff, who was prime minister of Lower Saxony at the time, has denied misleading state deputies about the loan.

IPI Executive Board Chairman Dr. Carl-Eugen Eberle, who also heads IPI’s German National Committee, yesterday issued a statement labeling Wulff’s actions unacceptable.