After allegations of alleged influence on the traffic light coalition negotiations, Porsche AG apologized for an "exaggerated" formulation and expressed regret about the process. The ZDF satirical magazine "Die Anstalt" had previously presented unverifiable quotes from Porsche boss Oliver Blume. According to these, the CEO is said to have said at a works meeting on June 29, 2022 that Porsche played a “very large part” in the further use of synthetically produced e-fuels for combustion engines “being included in the coalition agreement”.
"During an internal event in June, exaggerated formulations were made, for which we apologize," said a spokesman for Porsche AG WELT AM SONNTAG. “The choice of words does not correspond to the facts. The exchange did not take place and there was no influence.” The FDP had also rejected the allegation from the satirical program.
Cabaret artist Max Uthoff said in the show that was broadcast on Tuesday that Blume - who is to replace Herbert Diess at the head of the parent company VW from September 1 - had managed to "keep open" the future use of e-fuels for his clientele.
As evidence, he cited an alleged statement by Blume to Porsche employees on June 29: “We have a very large share in the fact that e-fuels were included in the coalition agreement. We were a main driver there, with very close contact to the coalition parties. Christian Lindner has kept me up to date almost every hour over the past few days.”
In the "fact check" of the show it says: "The editors have evidence that verifies this statement." At the request of "Stern", ZDF did not want to comment further on what the evidence looked like.
E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are to be produced from renewable electricity. Environmental groups criticize that they are inefficient and will remain expensive and only available to a limited extent for the foreseeable future.
Lindner had the report denied on Friday. The position of the FDP boss on e-fuels has been known for years, according to Lindner's Twitter account.
In a statement on Saturday, the FDP went on to say: "The content of the positioning on e-fuels took place in the opposition role in the German Bundestag before 2021 and in the election program of the FDP and thus long before the federal elections, the coalition negotiations and the formation of a government."
The traffic light coalition had stipulated in the coalition agreement that it wanted to work to ensure that vehicles that are fueled with e-fuels could also be registered after a ban on combustion engines in 2035. During negotiations at EU level, the FDP insisted on this exception for e-fuels - with success.
As the FDP further announced, in October 2021 there was “only a short phone call” between Blume and Lindner on questions about the use of e-fuels. “Mr. Lindner also spoke to the CEOs of vehicle manufacturers who do not support e-fuels. As far as we know, the companies have also held such talks with the negotiators of the coalition partners.”
In the negotiations at EU level this year, FDP leader Lindner acted "in accordance with his long-standing position" within the federal government. "Prior to this decision, there was no contact with Mr. Blume on the matter, and there was no attempt to influence Mr. Lindner's long-standing position either."
The "Bild" newspaper reported that after the allegations became known on Friday, there was apparently contact between a spokesman for Porsche and a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance. After an inquiry from the newspaper, an SMS from the Porsche spokesman was received by "Bild", which was apparently intended for a spokesman for Lindner. This shows "that Porsche and Lindner's team are in close contact," according to the "Bild".
The Lobby Control organization sharply criticized the reported events. One of her spokespersons, Christina Deckwirth, said WELT AM SONNTAG: “It is highly problematic if there are special accesses for large, financially strong corporations during coalition negotiations. And if it's true that the Porsche boss boasted about it internally, that would be another sign of how natural such special access is for the car lobby and how confident the CEOs are of their influence on top politicians."
With regard to the report on a possible coordination of the press spokesman in crisis communication, Deckwirth added: "Should the press spokesman of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Porsche company also coordinate with each other in crisis communication, that would be an additional major problem: A ministry must Regulate corporations and must not work hand in hand with them.”
The Left Party warned of a threat to democracy in view of the allegation from the "institute". “It cannot be that the Porsche boss was apparently better informed about the status of the coalition negotiations than the rest of the population. That would further undermine democracy," said Jan Korte, parliamentary manager of the left-wing faction in the Bundestag, WELT AM SONNTAG. "The thing has at least one 'taste'," added Korte.
