The Federal Press Conference, declared deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer, "is synonymous with hands-on freedom of the press, with democracy – and that is more important than ever, at a time in which the freedom of the press is unfortunately increasingly coming under attack in many countries around the world". "In Germany we can rightly be proud of this institution."

What sets the Federal Press Conference apart is that it is an independent association of German parliamentary journalists. "We, the spokespersons of the German government are happy to be your guests here. You lay down the agenda and decide on the topics to be addressed," said Ulrike Demmer. That is not always easy in day-to-day work. "But that is exactly the way it should remain – in the interests of our democracy."

Three government press conferences every week

The Chair of the Federal Press Conference, Dr Gregor Mayntz, said, "Everywhere in the world, governments decide themselves whether or not to hold a press conference, when they intend to do so, who will be invited and who is entitled to ask questions. That is different in Germany." Here the federal government spokesperson, his deputies and the spokespersons from all federal ministries are invited guests three times a week. "We lay down the rules of play, and the rules are that anyone can ask a question," he declared.

Seventy years ago a group of newspaper correspondents called for the Federal Press Conference to be founded – using a notice on the notice board of the federal parliament building in Bonn, which was capital at that time. On 11 October 1949 it was officially constituted with the election of a managing committee.

A good day for congratulations

During the German Empire, journalists issued their own invitations to press conferences for the first time. And they took this a step further during the Weimar Republic. Under the National Socialists the press was brought under government control.

According to the Federal Press Conference, seventy years ago the founders were able to build on their predecessors. "In 1949 when the Federal Republic was born, and everybody had to organise themselves, our colleagues already knew that this was something that had worked – so they founded the Federal Press Conference," explained today’s Chair Dr Gregor Mayntz. Deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer said, 70 years on, this is "a good day to congratulate you most warmly, first and foremost of course the executive board of the Federal Press Conference".