The foundation has now been dissolved and a committee of inquiry has been set up. But the foundation for climate and environmental protection in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was controversial from the start. According to a media report, there was also early criticism from the then Chancellor.
The then Chancellor Angela Merkel is said to have viewed Manuela Schwesig's plans to found the Foundation for Climate and Environmental Protection MV critically early on. This is reported by the "Spiegel". The institution, founded in January 2021, was controversial from the start. Contrary to what its name might suggest, its primary purpose was to secure the completion of Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.
According to the report, on December 18, 2020, there was a conversation between the CDU Chancellor and the SPD politician and head of government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Insiders report that Merkel has always complained that establishing a state foundation contradicts the attitude of the federal government. They always argued that it was a purely private-sector project.
In addition, the Chancellor is said to have criticized the coupling of environmental protection and pipeline construction as a transparent maneuver that would not hide the cover character of the foundation. A spokesman for the State Chancellery in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania confirms the date on request, but emphasizes: "The conversation was for information and not for obtaining consent."
The federal government later declared "that it had not evaluated the project," the report continues. A spokeswoman for the former chancellor announced that no comments were made on the content of personal conversations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the state parliament decided in May to dissolve the foundation. In mid-June, a state parliament investigative committee began work on the foundation. Schwesig also distanced himself and spoke of a mistake.
