Union brings the Schwesig case to the federal stage

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SPD politician Schwesig (at the industrial port of Lubmin, archive photo)

Photo: Jens Büttner / picture alliance / dpa central image

The affair surrounding the controversial climate foundation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is developing into a permanent problem for Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig and the SPD.

Now the case has also reached the federal political stage: According to SPIEGEL information, the Union faction board has decided to request a current hour on the subject this week.

It should take place on Wednesday or Thursday and be entitled "Clarification of the dubious processes surrounding the climate foundation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania".

For months, Schwesig's state government has been confronted with the accusation that the dubious foundation was only founded to circumvent possible US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and to promote the completion of the project with Russian help.

A committee of inquiry in the Schwerin state parliament examines the background.

A few days ago it became known that a tax officer apparently destroyed important tax documents for the foundation in spring 2022 - out of concern for personal complications.

The files were relevant because they were used to clarify whether the foundation should have paid gift tax for a million-dollar payment from Nord Stream 2 AG.

The officer had initially misplaced the documents and then burned them in a private fireplace when they were being searched for.

Apparently, members of the state government were informed of the process early on, but informed the public only after a great delay.

Schwesig promised quick clarification, but firmly rejected the suspicion of political influence on the tax authorities.

At the time, the authorities had a copy of the files in question.

The state demands almost ten million euros in gift tax from the foundation.

The foundation is defending itself legally.

The question has not yet been finally clarified.

"With the burned tax return, Manuela Schwesig's credibility is finally burned," CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja told SPIEGEL.

"This shows a swamp of tricks, deception and concealment surrounding Schwesig's Gazprom Foundation, which must finally be drained." which such actions are possible.« The »SPD cartel of silence« must be »broken through«.

Thorsten Frei, first parliamentary director of the Union faction, had previously called for a special investigator on the processes surrounding the climate foundation.

"Schwerin should request external investigators to use all legal options," he told the "Bild" newspaper.

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