Balance of the Wirecard U Committee Is Scholz complicit?

Status: 06/22/2021 5:00 p.m.

The Wirecard committee of inquiry presented its report one year after the accounting scandal became known. But who is politically responsible remains open. The opposition and the Union accuse Finance Minister Scholz. For years the Wirecard Group has been highly praised – an innovative business model, a fantastic sales development, the hope in the Dax. And then almost two billion euros disappeared from the balance sheet practically overnight. “It is a criminal case,” says Matthias Hauer, chairman of the Union in the committee of inquiry. And after seven months of studying the files and questioning witnesses, it is clear that the Union is primarily responsible for the bankruptcy of billions: “Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and the management of the Federal Ministry of Finance bear political responsibility for the Wirecard scandal,” said Hauer. They knowingly looked the other way when the rumors about irregularities in the Wirecard management made the rounds. Fabio de Masi from the Left puts it even more drastically: “This billions of dollars lie, this Wirecard illusion factory was only conceivable because they organized a political network to hide the fact that there wasn’t much substance under the covers. “ De Masi recalled the countless investors who would have lost a total of more than 20 billion euros in share assets due to the Wirecard bankruptcy.

Opposition demands political consequences

Florian Toncar from the FDP also thinks that someone from politics should have apologized to the injured party: “I think it is a major annoyance for many citizens that in the end there is no one in such scandals who will also stand up admits his own mistakes. ”

But back to Olaf Scholz. As a witness in the committee of inquiry, he had considerable gaps in memory, complained the spokesman for the Union and opposition parties. Lisa Paus from the Greens thinks that Olaf Scholz did not exactly recommend himself as a candidate for Chancellor: “I think that especially in these times Germany needs a leader who can also admit mistakes. And I think that is something that Olaf Scholz is not given. ” Kay Gottschalk from the AfD was the chairman of the committee of inquiry – Union and the other opposition factions attested to having carried out the office professionally and with colleagues. In the matter he also misses political consequences at a higher level. “A minister would have resigned 20 years ago. And that is a cultural change that we are experiencing here in Germany that I do not like,” said Gottschalk.

SPD defends Scholz

And the SPD? It takes its candidate for chancellor out of the political line of fire. The allegations against Scholz are just election campaign noise, says finance politician Cansel Kiziltepe: “Olaf Scholz bears no political responsibility for the Wirecard scandal. And the allegations that have been made have not been confirmed.”

On Friday there is still a Bundestag debate on the political assessment of the scandal – then the public prosecutor has the floor. She is investigating the former management of Wirecard for, among other things, embezzlement, falsification of accounts and fraud committed by gang. It is not yet possible to foresee when there will be criminal proceedings

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Scholz in the Wirecard scandal Political leadership from yesterday

Status: 22.06.2021 5:50 p.m.

Finance Minister Scholz bears political responsibility for the Wirecard scandal. An apology would be appropriate. Because of his antiquated understanding of political leadership, there won’t be.

A comment by Tobias Betz, ARD capital studio

After eight months of the committee of inquiry, the question of political responsibility remains. And that is a fundamental question of political culture. Because there is not a word of regret from the government. Let’s not kid ourselves: this is shameful, but the reality.

The finance minister is politically responsible

Let’s take a look at the situation: The Wirecard case is one of the biggest financial scandals in Germany. At least 24 billion euros in damage. Everything happened in front of the eyes of the responsible authorities, which did not do their job in any way and at any time. And that is why there is certainly someone who is politically responsible – and that is the Federal Minister of Finance in this financial scandal. But Olaf Scholz makes it easy for himself. Not responsible, not involved, more like an observer. He could very well have – and should have – intervened. Because the Ministry of Finance has the legal and technical supervision of the Bafin. This is the financial supervisory authority. And she made gross miscalculations; she even supported Wirecard at times, reported journalists who had clues.

Not ready for self-reflection

Mistakes have been made. And the Scholz Ministry is responsible for ensuring that the financial supervision process works. If it just doesn’t work, then Scholz, as a minister, could be the size and have the courage to admit that mistakes have happened here. Honest words of regret. Society doesn’t really ask that much, a “Mea Culpa!”, “My mistake!” Is often enough. But Scholz is apparently not ready for this kind of error culture, critical self-reflection.

Don’t make any mistakes, least of all admit none

Maybe he’s not ready to do so because of the election campaign. Just don’t make any mistakes, least of all admit any mistakes. Protect yourself, after all, he is a candidate for chancellor. Namely one who advertises to have a lot of government experience. But leadership doesn’t include ironing out and fending off everything. That is an understanding of political leadership from the past. Mistakes happen, people make mistakes and they are allowed to admit them. That would be honest and brave. But as a consequence, calls for resignation like those from the AfD are out of place.

The Chancellor apologized

That promotes this unspeakable error culture in politics. If every mistake immediately costs the post, then it is already clear that there can be no political Mea Culpa. Chancellor Angela Merkel once broke with this culture of mistakes. During the lockdown policy at Easter. She had to withdraw an overnight decision to introduce an additional public holiday. But she didn’t do that quietly and without comment. No, she stood in front of Parliament and apologized in public for it. Apparently this remains an exception. But the Chancellor has the format of a chancellor. Editorial note Comments generally reflect the opinion of the respective author and not that of the editors

Industry Day Showing the Chancellor candidate

Status: 06/22/2021 6:12 p.m.

How can the climate change succeed and Germany be preserved as an industrial location? The Chancellor candidates gave outlooks at the Industry Day. In the end there was nothing more than friendly applause.

From Eva Ellermann, ARD capital studio

German industry is worried: climate neutrality by 2045 – how should Germany, a country of industry, export and innovation, achieve that?

The head of the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI), Siegfried Russwurm, fears that new climate protection goals and specifications will overwhelm the industry: “Just to raise the bar, although athletes and coaches don’t yet know how to cope with the lower ones – that is not a successful training strategy. And to do that as a trainer, and certainly not to talk to the athlete about it beforehand. ”

Merkel’s last day of industry

Chancellor Angela Merkel does not find it difficult to commit to Germany as an industrial location, but she warns that self-evident things have to be worked out over and over again.

It is her last appearance at an Industry Day and she uses it to make demands on the hosts on the way to climate neutrality: “We urgently need – we should work with the BDI – a forecast for electricity demand in 2030. The Assumptions that the electricity price will not increase are probably not sustainable. Then we need a plan that requires more line construction than we have planned today, “said Merkel.

SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz shares the Chancellor’s diagnosis and uses it to attack Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier. He assumes constant electricity consumption until 2030 – Scholz adds: “Let me say it loud and clear: the electricity lie.”

Scholz presents himself as a doer. He promises the industry that electricity will remain affordable for them. “That is why we will abolish the EEG surcharge by 2025 and reorganize the taxes and surcharges in the energy sector,” said Scholz. “My goal is an industrial electricity price of four cents.”

Laschet: no tax increases

Competitor Armin Laschet is not that specific. The Union chancellor candidate shows understanding for the concerns of the industry. “My idea is that in 20 years’ time we will still have a steel industry, still have a chemical industry, another automotive industry – then climate-neutral,” says Laschet. “But if you do not formulate this goal at the beginning, but just keep increasing guidelines and limit values, issuing bans, you will in the end gamble away the status of the industrialized country.”

The “Corona Method” with regulations down to the smallest detail does not fit the future. Laschet promises: less maneuvering and no tax increases.

There is no getting around climate neutrality, emphasized Annalena Baerbock. Image: dpa

Of course, Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock knows that this is her address too, but she emphasizes that there is no getting around the goal of climate neutrality: “Whether you like it or not – the competition is about who will be the markets of the future first achieved climate-neutral, in the future it will also have the edge in terms of economy and thus socio-political. ” The course must now be set for a social and climate-friendly market economy, said Baerbock. All three candidates for Chancellor appear a bit nervous at their show in front of the most important German business association. At the end of the day there is friendly applause for everyone, but no more at the German Industry Day

Assets in Dubai Scholz can buy data on tax fraud

Status: 11.06.2021 5:57 p.m.

Finance Minister Scholz has initiated an explosive deal. An anonymous informant obtained data on thousands of Germans who own assets in Dubai. It is about uncovering tax fraud, said Scholz. Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to intensify the fight against tax fraud. “At my instigation, the Federal Central Tax Office procured a CD containing tax-relevant data from the Emirate of Dubai,” he said in Berlin. These data would soon be evaluated by the federal states. It is about uncovering possible crimes such as tax fraud. “Tax evasion is not a trivial offense, but a criminal act.”

Exclusive 08/12/2020

Assets hidden from the tax authorities?

The “Spiegel” had first reported on the process. An anonymous informant offered the data. The purchase cost the Federal Central Tax Office around two million euros. According to the magazine, millions of taxpayers are said to be affected, including several thousand Germans who, among other things, have land and real estate in the Gulf emirate. The data provided insights into assets that were hidden from the tax authorities in Dubai, according to the ministry report. In addition to clearing up criminal offenses, the data also ensured that the tax authorities would have full access to cross-border transactions. This would avoid loss of income.

07/12/2019

Handover to the federal states next week

After the secret handover of the material, the data is now, according to the “Spiegel” report, at the Federal Central Tax Office in Bonn. Next week they should be sent to the tax authorities of the federal states so that they can examine aspects of criminal tax law and, if necessary, initiate investigations. So far, only federal states had bought tax data. The then North Rhine-Westphalian finance minister and today’s SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans bought several tax data CDs. He was NRW Minister of Finance from 2010 to 2017.

Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has rejected complicity in the multi-billion Wirecard scandal. The former top management of the payment processor is being investigated. “Apparently there was a high level of criminal activity in the company,” said the SPD candidate for chancellor in the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the financial scandal. The auditor EY had not uncovered the errors for eleven years and always audited the balance sheets. This has been believed for too long. The federal government is not to blame for the case. Scholz said that it was acted quickly and that the right conclusions had been drawn: “I got all that on the way quickly.”

Government supervision not good enough

Scholz rejected allegations that the financial supervisory authority BaFin or the Ministry of Finance had held their protective hand over the company. He admitted, however, that the state supervisory and control structure was not well enough equipped for such an attack. It is important to learn from this – also because many investors have been deceived and lost large sums of money.

Keeping auditors on a leash

BaFin, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Finance, is being reorganized and should be given significantly more powers. In addition, the auditors should be kept on a leash. The aim is to restore confidence. The former Dax group went bankrupt in June 2020 after billions in air bookings became known. The Munich public prosecutor’s office is investigating balance sheet falsification, fraud, market manipulation and money laundering. Several ex-Wirecard board members are in custody or on the run. The BaFin and thus also the Ministry of Finance are accused of extensive failure in the case.

Now it’s official: employers in Germany will have to offer their employees compulsory corona tests from next week if they are not working from home. That is what the federal cabinet decided. It is only about an obligation for companies to make an offer – there is no obligation to test for employees. The employers also do not have to document whether the employees have accepted the offer. Labor Minister Hubertus Heil said that he had already signed the ordinance and that it would come into force “next week”. Initially, it applies until the end of July. Usually the employer has to offer one test per week. Employees in professions with a high risk of infection should receive an offer twice a week.

Up to 30,000 euros fine

The health and safety authorities of the federal states should monitor compliance with the obligation – for example in response to a complaint from employees. Violations can result in a fine of up to 30,000 euros. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert called on employees to accept the offers. “The Federal Government appeals to employees to act responsibly and to accept the offers for testing that are made to them, although they are not obliged to do so.” The employers have to pay for the costs. Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz rejects a reimbursement by the state. “This is now a national effort and everyone has to participate,” said the SPD politician in Deutschlandfunk. “Companies that have a business that can continue their production are in a far better position than the companies that now really struggle every day with the fact that, for example, the restaurant is not opening, the hotel is not operating properly can be.”

“Effort not disproportionate”

Scholz also referred to the extensive economic aid in recent months. “Last year it was 80 billion. If you add the tax breaks, just under 190 billion, all together,” said the SPD candidate for chancellor. “That is why I believe that this mandatory test is a reasonable and necessary measure.” Minister of Labor Heil also defended the new requirements. “It’s an effort, but it’s not disproportionate,” said Heil im ARD morning magazine. The CDU Economic Council expects the tests to cost German companies more than seven billion euros a month. Some small and medium-sized businesses couldn’t afford the hassle. Companies that have been badly hit by the Corona crisis can count the expenses for the tests as a cost item for the bridging aid.

Business associations are storming

Nevertheless, the business associations are storming against the regulation. “Once again politicians are trying to shift their duties on to employers, not to mention the costs,” said the President of the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), Anton Börner, to the newspapers of the Funke media group. Nine out of ten companies would already test their employees for the corona virus or will do so shortly. As a matter of principle, Börner only advocates event-related tests: “Fixed test intervals are unsuitable.” The German middle class announced that they would file a lawsuit against the agreed obligation to offer corona tests. “Medium-sized companies must and will defend themselves against this. As an association, we are currently preparing the necessary legal steps for this,” said Markus Jerger, Federal Managing Director of the Federal Association of Medium-Sized Business (BVMW) to the newspapers of the “Funke Mediengruppe”. “Corporate testing is a lesson in policy failure.” He accused the federal government of having failed all along the line when it came to testing and vaccination logistics. The craft also clearly opposed compulsory testing. “We still consider a statutory test obligation for our craft businesses to be neither necessary nor expedient,” said the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Hans Peter Wollseifer, of the Rheinische Post. He also criticized that the state wanted to “shift responsibility for fighting the pandemic to the economy”. Most companies are volunteering to test their employees or are preparing to do so immediately. A test obligation is “a legally unnecessary action”.

Still a long way off from a nationwide offer

In fact, only a third of companies currently offer their employees one test per week. Another 30 percent were aiming for this in the next four weeks, as the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) announced after a survey of 2000 companies from the end of March to the beginning of April. Minister of Labor Heil that is not enough. The offer must be comprehensive, he told him ARD morning magazine. At the moment the situation is very different depending on the industry and company size. As the IAB survey shows, the most tests are carried out in large companies. According to this, 60 percent of the companies with at least 250 employees offer their employees corona tests, a third of these companies planned to do so recently. As the size of the company decreases, the proportion of companies that already give their staff a test opportunity drops rapidly. According to the IAB survey, there are also clear differences between the sectors. Corona tests are most widespread in education, health and social services, where 58 percent of companies already offer corona tests and a further 22 percent were planning to do so. In the area of ​​transport and logistics, the test offer is only 17 percent.

Sufficient tests available?

Small companies in particular are wondering whether enough self-tests are now available at all. According to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, the deficiency that existed in March has been eliminated. On Friday he had assured that there were “more than enough of the tests”. The federal government has ordered over 130 million self-tests for the months of March and April from various manufacturers, above all Roche and Siemens. According to the ministry, there are also enough rapid tests for use by trained staff. For this year they have secured a quota of 550 million and, if necessary, a further 100 million pieces.