The Green Party is escalating pressure on German Economics Minister Katarina Reiche (CDU) ahead of a critical parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, according to reports in the “Rhineland Post”. The intensifying scrutiny stems from Reiche’s previously undisclosed attendance at a high-profile conference in Tyrol last year.
The minister initially denied attending the gathering, which involved international lobbyists, before eventually confirming it and characterizing it as a private engagement. This reversal followed investigative reporting that brought the event to light.
Green Party parliamentary group deputy Andreas Audretsch has accused Reiche of deliberately concealing details of her participation. “Katarina Reiche doesn’t want the public to know what she and her partner, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, were doing at the summit in the Tyrolean mountains” Audretsch told the newspaper. He suggested the minister is attempting to obscure conversations held with figures including former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, American investors and representatives from Arab investment firms.
Audretsch argues the public deserves transparency. “The people in this country are owed answers from Minister Reiche” he stated. “That’s why we’ve invited her to the committee and requested a public session. If the CDU and SPD, by virtue of their majority, choose to exclude the public, they will only reinforce the impression that Minister Reiche has something to hide.
The Green Party’s push for a public hearing highlights a growing conflict over transparency and potential conflicts of interest within the government. The incident has fueled accusations of a lack of accountability, particularly given Reiche’s prior denials and the presence of potentially influential figures at the conference. The outcome of the committee’s decision to either hold a public session or exclude the media could significantly impact Reiche’s standing and further damage the CDU’s reputation.
