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Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on the Wirecard Committee
Photo: HAYOUNG JEON / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
All in all, it was a self-confident appearance that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) made in the Wirecard investigative committee shortly before Christmas.
One noticed the former federal minister and today's advisor and lobbyist the years of experience with a role in the public.
At one point, however, Guttenberg fell into a skid and finally became snotty: When he was asked about a guest comment in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" ("FAZ") in which he advocated a ban on short sales for payment service providers and other "systemically relevant industries".
A perfectly fitting message from the point of view of Guttenberg's client at the time, Wirecard.
Because the company benefited from an unusual ban on short selling its shares imposed by the financial regulator BaFin.
Guttenberg denied any connection between the "FAZ" contribution and his work for Wirecard.
"Well, that was a topic that bothered me at the time," said the ex-politician.
He "certainly did not follow Wirecard's view of my article."
Even Wirecard's ex-boss Markus Braun, who had meanwhile been imprisoned and whom Guttenberg met several times, did not influence him in this direction, Guttenberg said, visibly annoyed when asked.
"I'll make the decisions myself".
But a so-called »Short Selling Action Plan«, which SPIEGEL has received, raises great doubts about this representation.
Rüdiger Assion, head of financial communications at the Edelman PR agency, sent this to Wirecard boss Markus Braun in March 2020 - shortly before Guttenberg's article was published.
The paper provided for contacts in politics, the media and at the stock exchange, with whom it was obviously intended to advertise a ban on short selling.
"Target group media" is listed as: "Guest commentary by Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, FAZ or Die Welt".
In addition to Assion himself, the former "Bild" boss Kai Diekmann, who now runs the PR agency Storymachine, is named as a contact.
SPD accuses Guttenberg of lying
This is followed by a one-and-a-half page argumentation paper for bans on short selling.
In many passages it resembles Guttenberg's "FAZ" commentary that appeared shortly afterwards.
It is obvious that the ex-politician knew about the plan.
Because Guttenberg sits on an advisory board of the US parent company.
According to his own statement, he made the contact between Braun and Edelman himself.
Guttenberg also confirmed a regular exchange with Diekmann before the committee.
But supposedly he couldn't remember whether it was also about Wirecard.
"Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg clearly lied to the committee," says Jens Zimmermann, chairman of the SPD.
After Guttenberg's appearance, a "bad aftertaste" remains.
The SPD does not rule out a renewed summons of the person who once stumbled upon plagiarism in his doctoral thesis.
Guttenberg's next appearance could then be a little less self-confident.
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