Ombudsman's decision meets with criticism

In the offending scene, Elsener plays a German reporter who asks SP President Christian Levrat whether he shouldn't make room for a young woman after eleven years. "This Ronja" had been elected "Miss Juso" and was "hot".

Ronja Jansen complained to the Obudsman because she found the scene sexist. The reduction to appearance, which always hit women, reinforced sexist stereotypes, criticized the Juso president.
Swiss television countered that the reporter was recognizable to viewers as a fictional character. The provocative nature and the lack of knowledge were intended to lure politicians out of their reserve.

Roger Blum agreed with Jansen. Racism and sexism would violate the SRG's ban on discrimination - even in a satirical program. He argues that a fictional character must "speak in conformity with his type". In other words, Harry Hasler is allowed to make sexist remarks, but reporter Frank-Walter Froschmeier is not.

"Encroachment on artistic freedom"

The ruling has been met with criticism. How the NZZ on Sunday Mike Müller, for example, is annoyed by this - Blum overshot the mark. Since the viewer doesn't yet know how the new character Froschmeier will act "in accordance with his type," Blum indirectly advises Elsener to play more blatant characters - "and that's an infringement on artistic freedom.

"Assessment sends all the wrong message"

In general, it is not well received that the ombudsman prescribes what satire may and may not do. A satirist should be allowed to do "just about anything," says Frank Baumann, for example. It's up to the audience to find it good or not.
Christian Jott Jenny, entertainer and mayor of St. Moritz, also has little use for Blum's assessment. "If we let satire be judged by such desk jockeys, then satire is at an end," he says. "Cabaret has to be free, it's allowed to do practically anything." He experiences SRF satire as far too well-behaved anyway, so the ombudsman's assessment sends "the wrong signal altogether," Jenny fears.