Germany: Olaf Scholz heard in the Bundestag on money laundering case
German Finance Minister and SPD candidate for chancellery Olaf Scholz as he leaves the finance committee in the Bundestag in Berlin, September 20, 2021. REUTERS - MICHELE TANTUSSI
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
A few days before the German elections, the favorite, the SPD candidate Olaf Scholz, had to answer this Monday morning to critical questions from the Parliament's Finance Committee.
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With our correspondent in Berlin,
Pascal Thibaut
Several deputies had already denounced the absence of Olaf Scholz who wanted to participate virtually in the meeting of the Finance Committee.
The SPD candidate for the chancellery surprised his world by appearing at the last minute in Parliament.
Six days before the elections, the vice-chancellor would have gladly done without this meeting.
Two hours later, the points of view remain antagonistic.
The opposition accuses the Minister of Finance of having done too little to fight against money laundering.
Germany is the first European country in this area.
Olaf Scholz
, placid as usual, declared that he had done more in three years than during the last thirty years with a notable strengthening of the competent institution in terms of personnel and resources.
Beyond the facts, this hearing had of course an electoral background.
The opposition and the Christian Democrats wanted to damage the image of seriousness and competence of the SPD candidate for the chancellery, favorite of the polls.
The affiliation of the prosecutor who requested the recent searches of the finance ministries at the
CDU
has also given rise to controversy.
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To read also: Elections in Germany: SPD and Greens display their rapprochement during the last debate
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