The powerful German editor, accused of misconduct, takes a break

The editor of Europe’s largest newspaper and an influential force in Germany’s politics and society, the guild has taken a leave of absence while a law firm investigates the allegations leveled against him, the publication’s owner said.

Julian Reichelt, editor, denies allegations of misconduct, Axel Springer, build’s publisher, said Statement. Springer said it had no “clear evidence” of the malpractice, but hired law firm Freshfields to investigate the allegations. It was not specified what they were.

The allegations were first made by the magazine Spiegel, Which cited half a dozen female employees who had worked for the build and complained of coercion by Mr. Reichel. Spiegel did not name female employees. The magazine said the women accused Mr. Reichel of violating their authority and creating a hostile work environment, but did not provide much information.

“To ensure that the investigation process cannot be seen to the end, and that the editorial team can work without further burden,” Springer said clarified. “

Springer said that Alexandra Wurzbach, editor of Builds Sunday Edition, would handle Mr. Reichel’s duties.

The #MeToo movement has hit much less force in Europe than in the United States, and in the case of Powerful men The decrease in allegations of misconduct against women has come down relatively.

Germany and most European Countries Protecting the identity of those accused in legal proceedings makes it more difficult for the media to report cases of harassment.

Courts have often been inconsistent. A in 2019 French court The nation’s leader was ordered to pay damages to a former television executive equivalent to the #MeToo movement, who accused him of making outrageous and degrading advances.

With a print circulation of 1.2 million, Bild is Europe’s largest newspaper, but like most publications, print readership has suffered a decline. In 2011, daily print sales averaged 2.8 million, according to Newspaper website, And was below 4 million in 1965.

With its colorful graphics and emphasis on scandals, celebrities and sports, Bild – which means “pictures” – is Germany’s populist daily newspaper. The reader leaves the male. Until 2012, Bild featured a picture of a topless woman on the front page every day, and continued to publish images of semi-nude “Bild Girls” online.

Unlike Britain’s right-wing taboos, the bould is relatively non-partisan, but still with an aggressive tabloid style, although it is printed on a broadsheet format. Due to Beld’s reach it is often the revelation that prominent political celebrities use to communicate with voters, offering exclusive interviews or juicy leaks.

Mr. Reichel, 40, a former war correspondent who became editor in chief of Beld in 2017, also wrote frequently Opinion pieces. He said of the mismanagement of the German government’s epidemic crisis, that he had recently gone to jail. He complained earlier this month that officials had fined joggers for wearing masks while the federal and state governments halted the rollout of vaccines.

Axel Springer, Bild’s parent company, is one of Europe’s most prominent media firms. Springer also owns the German daily newspaper Welt; Online news site Business Insider; And Politico Europe. Private equity firm KKR owns 36 percent of Springer shares and holds three seats on the company’s nine-man supervisory board. Fried Springer, widow of founder Axel Springer, is a major shareholder and board member.

Springer said in a statement on Saturday that the investigation involving Mr Reichel would involve an “assessment of the credibility and integrity of all involved”.

The publisher said: “Rumor-based biases axle Springer are unacceptable to corporate culture.”