Volkwagen: A contentious text message pertaining to "Porsche-Gate" surfaces, suggesting further investigation is imminent.
Three years post the "Porsche-Gate," new revelations pour in. This time, it's not about a new scandal but a peek into the cozy relationship between politics and the automotive industry.
Cars, politicians, and secret texts
The organization abgeordnetenwatch.de has managed to publish a dozen SMS between the CEO of VW and Porsche, Oliver Blume, and the former Finance Minister and FDP leader, Christian Lindner. These messages serve as a stark reminder of the close bond between the political world and industry. The SMS were exchanged during the summer of 2022, when there was a heated debate about the end of combustion engines by 2035. Lindner, along with others, opposed corresponding EU plans and demanded that cars powered by synthetic fuels should still be allowed after 2035.
"Blume snubs Lindner - 'Lindner got burned'" The last conversations between Blume and Lindner, in late June 2022, show Blume giving Lindner his "full support," "doubling down" on their efforts, and expressing gratitude for Lindner's efforts on the topic of the combustion engine ban. Earlier, Lindner had asked Blume for "argumentative support" on the issue: "Perhaps another voice would be helpful." This coincided with the EU environment ministers meeting to discuss the combustion engine ban and an exception for synthetic fuels.
Later, Blume stated something at an internal Porsche meeting that would come back to haunt him: "We played a very large role in getting E-Fuels included in the coalition agreement. We were a driving force behind that, with very close contact to the coalition parties. Christian Lindner kept me up to date almost hourly in the last few days." This comment was later turned into the "Porsche-Gate affair." A Porsche spokesperson apologized for Blume’s "exaggerated formulation."
What now? A spokesperson for Christian Lindner stated that the publication of these SMS refutes all allegations of influence on government decisions or Lindner's position. Porsche also backed their public stance on E-Fuels being a complement to electrification, which is reflected in the text messages between Lindner and Oliver Blume.
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Strong criticism of Christian Lindner
Lara Louisa Siever from abgeordnetenwatch.de strongly criticizes Lindner's conversations with Blume, stating that a government member actively seeking argumentative support from a lobbyist sends a "fatal signal for political independence." She calls for legally anchored transparency in politician contacts, openly showing who spoke to whom about what. "Such influence should no longer remain hidden."
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In essence, the Lindner-Blume SMS exchange offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes interaction between political leaders and influential figures in the German automotive sector, highlighting the potential for conflicts of interest and the need for transparency in political lobbying.
"The SMS exchange between Oliver Blume, CEO of VW and Porsche, and former Finance Minister Christian Lindner, further illustrates the intricate relationship between business, finance, politics, and general-news. This is evident as they discussed industry-related matters, particularly the ban on combustion engines by 2035."
"The recommendation for legally anchored transparency in politician contacts, as proposed by Lara Louisa Siever from abgeordnetenwatch.de, aims to prevent hidden influences in decision-making processes involving business and finance, thus addressing concerns in the realms of politics and general-news."
