Germany’s Christian Democrat party, CDU, has strongly rebutted suggestions an apparent EUR690,000 (US$934,000) donation from BMW’s Quandt family shareholders, has influenced political decisions.
The news the Quandts – owners of nearly half the shares in BMW – have apparently made the contributions – has whipped up a storm in Germany following the European Union Council of Ministers declaration this week there could be some “limited flexibility” concerning CO2 emissions reductions.
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Germany’s highly influential Green Party, often involved in coalition governments, such as those being negotiated at the moment following the recent general election, has slammed the donation as implying policies are “for sale.”
“The impression the policy of the Federal Government is for sale, harms the reputation of Germany,” said a Green Party statement. “The German proposal for a phased introduction of the new CO2 limit until 2024 is unacceptable.
“If this target is now softened, [it] shrinks the pressure on German manufacturers to conduct the necessary technological change to hybrid and electric drives from the top.”
Reports indicate Germany has succeeded in having the tough new limits of 95g by 2020 revisited by the Council in order to secure a time extension, following a 14 October meeting of all 28 EU Environment Minsters in Luxembourg.
However, the German political party headed by Chancellor, Angela Merkel, firmly refutes any connection between donations and current political debates.
“The Quandt family supported the CDU for many years with private donations and irrespective of the question whether the CDU was involved in the government or in opposition,” said the CDU in a statement sent to just-auto.
“The donations were and are in no way associated with individual political decisions.
“All donations were and are displayed to the Bundestag according to the specifications of the Political Parties Act and can be taken from the published annual reports of the CDU.”
BMW confined itself to noting: “It is private donation of the Quandt family and we don’t comment on that.”
The CDU also announced today (16 October) it would not continue talks with the Green Party on forming a coalition.
The Quandt family was not immediately available for comment.
