Wulff's ex-spokesman faces fresh allegations
The former spokesman for embattled German President Christian Wulff has been hit with new accusations over alleged perks from an event manager. A new report claims Olaf Glaeseker was treated to free flights during his time as spokesman.
On Thursday, police raided Glaeseker's home as part of an investigation into corruption allegations.
Media reports claimed the former spokesman supported a series of events organised by Manfred Schmidt, an event manager closely connected to the president, between 2007 and 2009.
In return, Glaesker was allegedly given several holidays in Schmidt's properties.
The Bild am Sonntag newspaper claimed the perks did not stop there. The paper reported Saturday that Glaeseker received free air travel at least five times over the past year, while he was working for President Wulff.
Glaeseker reportedly used Schmidt's VIP card with carrier Air Berlin to travel to Turkey and Mallorca.
Schmidt's offices in Berlin and Switzerland were also raided on Thursday, with police removing computers and documents.
Wulff fired Glaeseker, the man often described as his closest advisor, in late December without publicly stating a reason.
Prosecutors said they were not investigating Wulff on suspicion of criminal activity.
A new opinion poll by the Infratest dimap shows less than one-third of all Germans still view the president as trustworthy, amid the controversy surrounding a €500,000 home loan Wulff borrowed from the wife of a businessman friend while state premier of Lower Saxony in 2008, and failed to declare.
DAPD/DPA/The Local/arp
Comments
See Also
On Thursday, police raided Glaeseker's home as part of an investigation into corruption allegations.
Media reports claimed the former spokesman supported a series of events organised by Manfred Schmidt, an event manager closely connected to the president, between 2007 and 2009.
In return, Glaesker was allegedly given several holidays in Schmidt's properties.
The Bild am Sonntag newspaper claimed the perks did not stop there. The paper reported Saturday that Glaeseker received free air travel at least five times over the past year, while he was working for President Wulff.
Glaeseker reportedly used Schmidt's VIP card with carrier Air Berlin to travel to Turkey and Mallorca.
Schmidt's offices in Berlin and Switzerland were also raided on Thursday, with police removing computers and documents.
Wulff fired Glaeseker, the man often described as his closest advisor, in late December without publicly stating a reason.
Prosecutors said they were not investigating Wulff on suspicion of criminal activity.
A new opinion poll by the Infratest dimap shows less than one-third of all Germans still view the president as trustworthy, amid the controversy surrounding a €500,000 home loan Wulff borrowed from the wife of a businessman friend while state premier of Lower Saxony in 2008, and failed to declare.
DAPD/DPA/The Local/arp
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.