Overview
- Restle, the longtime host of ARD’s politics program Monitor, is stepping down after more than 25 years and uses a new interview to fault ARD and WDR for a timid approach to the AfD.
- He says his hard line is now a minority view at ARD and argues the AfD should be seen alongside right‑wing extremist networks around Björn Höcke.
- He rejects claims that tough reporting strengthens the AfD and calls the accusation nonsense, saying journalism must spell out risks to democracy and human rights.
- He will lead ARD’s Nairobi studio in the coming weeks, with reports citing either May 1 or June 1 as the start date, and he plans serious political reporting across roughly 40 African countries.
- WDR has not named a successor at Monitor, which underscores a wider debate inside public broadcasting over whether to give the AfD the same stage as other parties.