After a speech by speed skater Claudia Pechstein in a police uniform at a CDU convention, the Federal Police initiated an administrative review. A spokesman said the company learned about the process on Saturday afternoon and started the examination immediately.
Pechstein caused discussions with her performance at the weekend. The SPD domestic politician Sebastian Fiedler wrote on Twitter: “A police officer in uniform swings party speeches? I’m rubbing my eyes in disbelief.” He demands transparency and follow-up from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Fiedler used the hashtag “duty of neutrality” in his tweet.
Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau (left) wrote on Twitter: “I’ve been dealing with civil servants and disciplinary law for 25 years, not just in the interior committee, there’s also party financing and stuff – this process is beyond any tolerable possibility.”
Pechstein campaigned at the convention in Berlin on Saturday to strengthen club and school sports. She also called for the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. This ensures more security in everyday life. Being able to use public transport “without fearful looks” is one of the problems that particularly affects older people and women. Improvements there should be more important “than thinking about whether we should put a gender asterisk or whether a concert can still be called a German recital or whether it’s still allowed to order a gypsy schnitzel,” said Pechstein.
A CDU spokeswoman told the German Press Agency on Sunday that it was not clear before the speech that Pechstein would wear a federal police uniform. As far as she knows, the policewoman has permission to wear the uniform. The spokeswoman did not want to comment on Pechstein’s statements. Pechstein’s management also announced on Sunday that they did not want to comment.
What does the Federal Civil Service Act say?
Schleswig-Holstein’s education minister and deputy party leader, Karin Prien, praised the “excellent CDU policy convention” on Twitter. “C. Pechstein should contribute her perspective on sports and volunteering,” Prien wrote.
A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior initially did not want to comment. Civil servants are subject to the duty of neutrality under civil servant law.
The Federal Civil Servants Act states: “When engaging in political activities, civil servants must exercise moderation and restraint that result from their position in relation to the general public and from consideration for the duties of their office.”
Pechstein won the gold medal five times at the Olympic Winter Games, and she also won two silver and two bronze medals. At the 2022 Games in Beijing, she was allowed to carry the German flag into the Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony together with bobsleigh pilot Francesco Friedrich. Despite her now 51 years, Pechstein is still one of the best speed skaters nationally, but international medals are out of reach for her. The winter sportswoman ran for the CDU in Berlin in the federal election in 2021, but did not enter parliament.
