Kurz and Maischberger

Last night, ARD (German public TV, Channel One) carried one of it's chat forum shows....with Sandra Maischberger leading a conversation with the new Chancellor of Austria....Sebastian Kurz, and one of the German Green Party folks....Jurgen Tritten. 

Some Germans (mostly conservatives and those questioning the immigration) have a favorable view of Kurz.  Some Germans (especially those on the far left)....don't have much of a liking to Kurz).

From my view, Kurz is a rather odd character. He's 31 years old.  After finishing up the mandatory period of youth in the Austrian Army....he went to college for a short period of time, and then left....to go into politics.  Over the past five years, it's safe to say that he's impressed a lot of people....shown himself to be very clever and bright, and usually does well in debates.  To be blunt here.....there's no one in Germany at this level....at this age (31).

So the interview was expected to touch on Austrian topics, positions taken, the anti-immigration talk, etc.  Maischberger?  Well...she decided to go and touch on personal stuff...like his wedding plans. Then she got over into the fact that he has no academic degree, that he is the first head of a government with a 'student-card'....which is a slam on youth.

Viewers?  Well....Focus brought this up in their article....they felt Maischberger treated him with a lack of respect (he is a Chancellor, folks noted). 

This comes to an observation of mine over the years and Germans hyped about the degree status or educational status of leaders.  Generally, political folks and journalists are absolutely convinced that you need to have a degree....preferably an advanced degree....to be Chancellor or some ranking position in the government. No one should have responsibility without such a degree.

I've watched this to some degree explained at various occasions, and how intellectuals are the engine-and-wheels of the German government....with the same typically explained for any journalist for ARD or ZDF.

Bad behavior on Maischberger part?  Well....she's in a unfireable-position.  Both ARD and ZDF have reached a level where they can't really fire anyone.  Her point here which she hoped that viewers would catch and think her position rather clever....probably didn't sell to half the people watching.  As for adding to the list of reasons why some folks hate the TV media tax and the quality on public TV?  Well....some folks did mention that off the comments page for the public channel.  I hate to suggest it but the journalists are harming their product without even realizing it. 

I think if you went and asked working-class Germans about Kurz....most know of him and his position, and I suspect that a fair number of CDU voters (right-of-center) would like to replace Merkel with someone like this, but they have no such 'creature'.

If you wanted to watch the interview....Sunday night at 1:30 AM (yeah, real late) on 3SAT, it will appear.