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The German-speaking Swiss Ombudsman SRG received three complaints against the satirical program “Deville” on Swiss television (SRF) on Monday. Esther Girsberger, co-director of the Ombudsman’s Office, confirms this upon request. The petitions denounce an unjustified influence in the referendum of November 29.
Comedian Dominic Deville had dealt almost exclusively with the corporate responsibility initiative Sunday night in his half-hour show. Deville attacked Swiss companies because of environmental pollution abroad; as an example he cited the operation of coal mines. Deville also spoke about child labor: The economic umbrella organization Economiesuisse is against child labor abroad and is now training children in camps. Because only Swiss children can guarantee Swiss quality.
CVP national adviser Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter explains that it does not comply with the rules for Swiss television to offer supporters of a proposal a platform so shortly before the date of the vote. National Councilor Gregor Rutz (SVP) agrees: “This program was misused for electoral propaganda a week before the vote. That won’t do. The show was also bad, unintelligent, humorless, crude. In my opinion, this has nothing to do with satire. “
SRF spokeswoman Eva Wismer responded that “Deville” treats current affairs as a satirical format. This also includes the corporate responsibility initiative. It is in the nature of things that subjects are deliberately discussed in satire. “It is important that the satire is recognizable as such. This is the case with ‘Deville’ “.
Wismer also emphasizes that Swiss television adheres to journalistic guidelines. They say: In the week before voting, television contributions must be “absolutely balanced.” That wasn’t “Deville,” but it’s not an information show, it’s a satirical show. It can be argued that freedom of art applies here. According to the law, the Ombudsman has 40 days to deal with complaints. “If three complaints are received on the first day after a show airs, experience shows that more will follow,” says publicist Esther Girsberger. 201,000 viewers watched “Deville” on Sunday night.
