Major Corporations Donate Millions to German Political Parties
A recent investigation by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” has revealed that the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) have received significant donations from the business sector in the millions. The donations, which have been made since the collapse of the grand coalition, have been disclosed by the companies themselves.
Philip Harting, the CEO of the Harting Group, stated, “We are currently without leadership, and this cannot continue.” Harting donated 100,000 euros to the CDU and 50,000 euros to the FDP. Johannes Reck, the CEO of Get Your Guide, expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “Germany has significantly lost competitiveness over the past ten years. We urgently need comprehensive structural reforms to make the country an attractive location for entrepreneurs again.” Reck donated 100,000 euros to the FDP.
Tao Tao, also the CEO of Get Your Guide, stated, “The FDP has sensible ideas on how to create sustainable growth and jobs, not through more state, but through more freedom for performance and entrepreneurship.” The private bank Berenberg has also shown support for the CDU and FDP, with Hendrik Riehmer stating, “In our view, the Union parties and the FDP offer the best conditions to get the German economy back on track.”
Florian Rehm, the CEO of Jägermeister, has been a long-time supporter of democratic parties and individual candidates, stating, “Election campaigns are associated with significant costs. The more lively the campaign, the better the public debate of opinions will be.”
Since the coalition collapse in November 2024, the parties CDU, CSU, FDP, SPD, Greens, Volt, BSW, and Free Voters have received a total of more than 13 million euros in the form of large donations.