Summary: Christoph Ernst's position on Benoît Battistelli as explained by a Techrights reader
After reading the interview given by the head of the AC, Mr. Ernst, I was speechless. In particular the statement " Benoît Battistelli’s tenure at the European Patent Office (EPO) has been undoubtedly positive but there has been a heavy-handed approach” is repugnant. However. the statement induces a question, "positive" for whom?
If Mr. Ernst would care to consider the last statistics about staff satisfaction, he would "undoubtedly" remark that the degree of satisfaction during Battistelli's tenure among EPO staff is 0%, no more, no less. If Mr. Ernst would care to consider the number of Mayday letters that he as received during the tenure of Mr, Battistelli, letters written by different unions at different levels (German, EPO, European) as well as a group of examiners who want to remain anonymous in fear of retaliation from the EPO management, or other individuals, he would "undoubtedly" become aware of a general unease among staff (to express it in a most diplomatic manner). If Mr. Ernst would care to consider the figures of suicides among staff, he would "undoubtedly" appreciate that the applied personal policies during the tenure of Mr. Battistelli have led the most fragile staff to prefer the rest in peace than the continuous unrest at work.
"Positive" may be... but not for the staff of the EPO.
Therefore "cui bono"? Does Mr. Ernst "undoubtedly" agree with the institutionalised contempt for the rule of law, with the disregard of the EPC, with the bullying of the judges in the DG3, with the introduction of a Stasi-like investigative Unit, with the transformation of the EPO headquarters into a militarised fortress, with the illegal spying on staff and patent attorneys, with the blatant nepotism, with the witch-hunting of the Union, with the the millions spent to glorify his Majesty Battistelli in his French home town St Germain en Lay, and with the omnipresent corruption? Are these the views of a German civil servant in the ministry of Justice? Mr. Ernst is closing his eyes and acknowledging all the mischiefs perpetrated by Mr. Battistelli. On his behalf, Germany is accepting on his own soil what other countries would condemn on their own. Strangely enough history repeats itself in this country, everything is "legal", everything is "fine", close your eyes. "Undoubtedly" Mr. Ernst should ask his grandfather....
"Positive" may be... but not for the stakeholders around the EPO.
This kind of "positive" statement is just an insult to the 7000 EPO employees, to the million of Europeans and to the billions of human beings.
And the term "heavy-handed approach" is the cherry on the top of the cake. Should we understand that next measures will be rendered "undoubtedly" more acceptable with a boatload of Vaseline?
However, the very comprehensive approach of Mr. Ernst to Battistelli's tenure may have to do with a a widely spread syndrome among EPO "managers", the Reality Deficit/Denial Disorder(RDD) or with the generous free dental treatment offered by Mr. Battistelli to members of the AC, as dental treatment is very expensive in Germany, even for German civil servants.....
The question remains open" cui bono" Mr. Ernst?
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