Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) has, according to media reports, good chances to become president of the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). The former Federal Minister of Economics, party leader and vice-chancellor would become the chief lobbyist of the German auto industry. Gabriel currently sits as a Member of Parliament in the Bundestag, but wants to give his mandate on 1 November.
In the SPD the news caused a stir. Appreciation comes from SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil: "He is someone who is profiled as Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of the Environment in such an area". Gabriel has the prerequisites to advance the transformation of the automotive industry.
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Klingbeils party colleague Norbert Walter-Borjans, however, expressed critical. A change of Gabriel to the VDA would disturb many people, as he was sure. With the SPD it would come to "confrontations". "Anyone who has ever had a prominent role must also consider for the time being how much he pleases the family he comes from," Walter Borjans told the "Bild" newspaper.
The former Minister of Finance of North Rhine-Westphalia is currently in the public eye, because he goes with Saskia Esken in the run-off election for the party presidency of the SPD.
FDP leader Christian Lindner criticized in the federal press conference Gabriel's proximity to VW. As Head of Government of Lower Saxony Gabriel sat from 2000 to 2003 on the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen. Gabriel also worked for a consulting firm that received an order from Volkswagen with a volume of more than € 100,000 - but according to Gabriel, everything was formally correct.
"Sigmar Gabriel worked for VW as a paid lobbyist at the time when he was voted out as prime minister," said Lindner. The FDP man also expressed concern, whether Gabriel "the interests of the smaller players in the market," such as the medium-sized supplier companies, considered.