As of: 04/20/2023 4:22 pm
Union, Linke and AfD want to close the tax case on Warburg Bank in the Bundestag. The SPD does not hold the federal government responsible. Another committee will decide now. The traffic light coalition has the most votes there.
SPD, Greens and FPD could block the commission of inquiry into the opposition-planned Hamburg Warburg Bank financial scandal. The Bundestag forwarded the Union’s request for the establishment of a committee of inquiry to Parliament’s Rules Committee.
From the SPD’s point of view, the federal government is not responsible for many points that should be examined more closely. In the body of the Rules, the Union can – not as usual – constitute a commission of inquiry with at least a quarter of the votes, but it needs a majority, which the three groups of traffic lights can prevent.
The Union could then verify this before the Federal Constitutional Court, or all factions could agree to a reduced committee of inquiry.
SPD and FDP reported legal concerns
In the Bundestag debate, the SPD and FDP expressed legal concerns: It is questionable whether the Bundestag should be allowed to investigate this Hamburg matter.
Moreover, all the committee’s questions have long since been answered. “The CDU/CSU is not concerned with gaining knowledge, but with pure propaganda against Olaf Scholz,” criticized SPD MP Michael Schrodi.
Green MP Katharina Beck also stressed that the “Cum-Ex” scandal itself must be investigated. However, hardly any knowledge gains can be expected from a Bundestag committee. Union is not about education, but about political motives.
Union, Linke and AfD for clandestine committee
The union, on the other hand, argued that, despite the similar committee in Hamburg, there were still many open questions and contradictions. The federal government has more opportunities for clarification and therefore must act.
Scholz has so far been unwilling to clarify, has criticized CDU deputy Matthias Hauer and now wants to draw a line. The Left Party and the AfD also support the Union’s concerns.
Refund of unpaid taxes
According to the union’s request, the commission of inquiry was to clarify whether there was political influence in the Warburg Bank tax case when Scholz was mayor of Hamburg.
The bank was involved in the “Cum-Ex” scandal and had received a tax refund from the state that had never been paid before. Hamburg’s tax authority initially refrained from recovering millions. Pursuant to a court decision, the bank subsequently paid all outstanding amounts.
Meeting with partner Olearius
During this time, Scholz met several times with the bank’s partner, Christian Olearius. After that, the refund was waived. Today’s chancellor categorically rules out any influence on the tax process.
At the same time, during his two interrogations before the investigative committee of the Hamburg Parliament, he claimed that he could no longer remember conversations from that time.