Andreas Scheuer: Transport Minister testifies in the committee of inquiry - fateful hour for his career?

Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer will answer questions from the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the car toll on Thursday.

The toll operators also testify.

• The parliamentary committee of inquiry into the car toll will question Transport Minister Scheuer on Thursday.

• The aim is to clarify the problem of billions in contracts and Scheuer's transparency on this.

• Observers believe that the hearing will influence Scheuer's career.

Berlin - The parliamentary committee of inquiry into the

wants to

review

role in the failed project and his problematic information policy towards the

.

These are abrasive, but also the heads of the

-

to testify on Thursday.

Because of terminated contracts, they still have an invoice for millions with the federal government.

Federal Minister of Transport @AndiScheuer testifies for the first time on October 1st before the committee of inquiry about the failed #PkwMaut.

The opposition is already demanding his # resignation https://t.co/XRCGKQWkBt

- VerkehrsRundschau (@vr_online) September 29, 2020

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) overturned the German

with a ruling in June 2019

, as they discriminated against foreign drivers.

But

had already

signed

billion contracts with

: one in October for

toll

with MTS Maut & Telematik Services and Kapsch TrafficCom from Austria and one in December with AutoTicket, Kapsch and CTS Eventim to collect the infrastructure fee.

The

arranged for the contracts for a total of two billion euros to be terminated.

But the operators are now demanding compensation from the federal government in excess of 560 million euros.

argues that the operators had “not fulfilled their contractual obligations,” the

filed an out-of-court arbitration against the

in February

to prevent the compensation payment.

Andreas Scheuer: His statements contradict protocols from "secret meetings"

Also

secret meeting between

made for criticism *.

Because the information it contains does not match

statements.

For example, on November 29, 2018, a representative of the operating companies CTS Eventim and Kapsch TrafficCom Scheuer offered, according to the memorandum protocol, "to wait until the ECJ ruled before signing a contract".

Scheuer rejected this, as the toll "should be introduced in 2020".

In addition, Scheuer is said to have promised lucrative "optional services" in the event that the required price for setting up the

"reduces".

If the statement is true, Scheuer would have

lied

in the

and offered services that might have had to be advertised.

under pressure

due to its non-transparent communication

.

For example, he subsequently had the secrecy level of files relating to the procurement procedure redefined, which meant that they were classified as confidential matters.

Andreas Scheuer: For some, his departure is already certain

All of this is likely to

require

unpleasant questions to be asked to the

on Thursday

.

Some observers see Thursday's appointment as a

for his further political career.

FDP chairman Christian Jung is already of the opinion that the minister will have to vacate the post.

He demanded that

* must dismiss him if he does not resign voluntarily.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Bernd Thissen