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Prime Minister of Saxony Michael Kretschmer (CDU)
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
In the 2019 state election year, the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer honored an entrepreneur who donated 25,000 euros to the CDU in Saxony.
The businessman Ernst Lieb was honored by Kretschmer at an event because, according to a report in the "Sächsische Zeitung", he is "particularly socially committed and thus strengthens cohesion".
An appointment with personal words from the Prime Minister took place at Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH in Dresden.
When asked, the State Chancellery denies a connection between the donation and the award.
"Mr. Lieb was proposed as president and supporter of FC Oberlausitz Neugersdorf, above all for his 25 years of outstanding commitment - beyond the management of his company, which is successful on the world market," it says.
The people to be honored are selected "on the basis of proactive suggestions from the population or by queries to chambers, the Saxony Economic Development Corporation, etc.".
The State Chancellery cannot say whether Kretschmer honored other people who are major donors: “Whether and to what extent donations are paid to the parties was and is not the subject of the State Chancellery’s examination or evaluation of voluntary commitments.”
The Office of the Prime Minister also points out: “In addition to public party funding, donations from private individuals or companies are also permitted.
The demand of the citizens to know how parties are financed is taken into account with the requirement of transparency according to the law on political parties.« SPIEGEL could not reach Lieb himself.
Kretschmer, who is also the Saxon CDU state chairman, won the 2019 state election with an extensive campaign.
The CDU ended up with 32.1 percent and has governed since then in a Kenya coalition with the SPD and the Greens.