(de-news.net) – President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner (CDU), has advocated for the continued existence of the broadcaster Phoenix in the event of a potential reduction in the specialized channels of the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. She emphasized Phoenix’ crucial role in democratic information dissemination and political opinion formation.

On Wednesday, Klöckner received a petition entitled “Phoenix Must Stay” and expressed the view that the broadcaster serves as an essential medium for direct parliamentary reporting, providing live and unedited coverage of Bundestag proceedings for several hundred hours annually. Through its comprehensive depiction of political processes and institutional activities, Phoenix is regarded as an indispensable source, particularly in light of societal polarization, she emphasized. The continued availability of this service appeared to her as an urgent necessity. The broadcaster fulfills the public service mandate of the state-funded media to an exceptional degree and significantly contributes to its public acceptance and financing, she added.