Initiative Meinungsfreiheit für den Bürger (MfB): Mr von Storch, when was the last time you switched on ARD and ZDF?

Sven von Storch: I'm probably like millions of other citizens in this country. I only watch ARD and ZDF when I happen to get caught up in one of the many channels and terms come up that catch my attention for a few seconds. But most of the time, the concentrated state propaganda irritates me so much that I have to switch on very quickly.

The framing is also becoming increasingly brazen and crude. They can no longer be as subtle as they perhaps were in Merkel's early years as chancellor. And then there's this scam with supposedly normal passers-by like you and me who happen to cross the cameras and are interviewed - and it turns out afterwards that it was a WDR employee or the aunt or best man of the editor responsible for the report. For this January alone, the Nius portal lists 98 cases of this kind of viewer fraud.

MfB: The state broadcasting system has come under severe pressure due to the never-ending scandals about excessive salaries and cronyism. Nevertheless, the system itself is not openly questioned by the mass media. Many citizens see the ÖRR as a huge, entrenched colossus that will never move.

Sven von Storch: You're right - and yet you're not. The ÖRR colossus may be gigantic, but there is a way around it. It's just a small trail and barely visible because the colossus almost hides it. And yet: the guarantee of continued existence that the Federal Constitutional Court has established for public service broadcasting: this guarantee actually applies to public service broadcasting - but not to ARD, ZDF and the state broadcasting organisations and the associated radio stations.

MfB: How so?

Sven von Storch: For constitutional reasons, the ÖRR must continue to exist. However, this guarantee of continued existence is not aimed at a specific broadcasting organisation or a specific size. This means that ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandfunk could be replaced by sixteen different institutions that are newly founded and established. Each federal state would have its own television station, a kind of citizens' broadcaster, which could take the place of NDR, WDR or MDR. Naturally with its own staff, its own directors, programme directors, recording managers, editors and so on. An independent citizens' broadcaster could practically do away with the entire ARD system, the Buhrows, Böhmermanns, Lanz, Maischbergers and co. in one fell swoop. And this citizens' radio programme would be much more accepted by viewers, who might even be happy to pay for it.

MfB: How can citizens get their way with this? How can this be achieved?

Sven von Storch: The year 2024 will be the decisive battle against compulsory fees and paternalism by state radio. Elections will be held this autumn in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. In all three federal states, the mood has turned against state radio.

The state elections in the east could be the starting signal for a fundamental change in the state broadcasting system. This is because citizens in eastern Germany are particularly critical of state radio. This is due to the experience of East Germans with the abuse of state media in the GDR. Meanwhile, more and more citizens in Germany are reminded by ARD and ZDF reporting of the "Aktuelle Kamera" of the GDR. Instead of critically scrutinising the government, state radio is fighting the opposition. But in the end, it could turn out that it is fighting itself and has shot itself in the foot.

MfB: Mr von Storch, thank you for the interview.