Brandt Staggered by Criticism : Uproar in Bonn: New Party Official Is Greek

The normally staid West German political scene has been enlivened this week by a row over the appointment of a press spokeswoman for the opposition Social Democratic Party.

The intra-party furor has apparently staggered Willy Brandt, the veteran Social Democratic Party’s chairman, who was responsible for selecting 31-year-old Margarita Mathiopoulos for the job.

By all accounts, Mathiopoulos is brilliant: She is a journalist with a Ph.D from Bonn University in contemporary history and political science and is a former student of government at Harvard University, the Sorbonne and the University of Florence. Born in Bonn, she speaks fluent German, Greek, English, French and Italian.

Greek Citizenship Cited

The problem, according to her critics, who include several Social Democratic chieftains, is that she holds Greek, not West German, citizenship, has had little experience in party affairs and, in fact, is not even a member of the party.

Some critics have pointed out that Mathiopoulos is a friend of Brandt’s wife, Brigitte, who is reported to have first brought her friend to her husband’s attention.

A number of Social Democratic leaders have called for a new party image, citing their poor showing in last January’s national election, in which Johannes Rau, the party’s candidate for chancellor, polled the lowest percentage of the vote gained by the Social Democrats in 25 years. In addition, the party continues to be split between the left and right wings.

But although a new image seems in order, some Social Democrats wonder whether Mathiopoulos is the woman to present it.

‘Loves Taking Risks’

There was reportedly strong opposition to her during the meeting of the party presidium Monday, during which Brandt was said to have pushed through the nomination. The party executive still must confirm’s Brandt’s choice.

Mathiopoulos did not help her case when, in her first public statement following her appointment, she declared that she “loves taking risks.”

One Social Democratic leader, Axel Wernitz, responded: “It is not enough to be ready for risks. One must know the inner structures if one becomes speaker for such a great party.”

Hans-Juergen Wischnewski, another party heavyweight, said that in allowing Brandt to force the Mathiopoulos appointment, the presidium seemed incapable of exercising its own authority.

Little Practical Experience

Several commentators said that since her academic career, Mathiopoulos has had little practical journalistic experience, working mainly on a West German television program.

However, some women in the party said she should be given a chance at her new job.

For his part, Brandt, who is 73 and not scheduled to retire until next year, declared that the affair is “lots of noise about nothing. (The appointment) is obviously unusual, but she is an unusually efficient woman.”

Mathiopoulos is the daughter of a Greek journalist-diplomat father and a Greek mother who is a professor at Bonn University. Although she was born here, Mathiopoulos still carries a Greek passport.

If Mathiopoulos is confirmed in the job, she will have her work cut out for her: Five of the 11 West German states will hold elections in the next six months.