Berlin Court Orders Release of Lindner-Porsche SMS Over Environmental Policy

The ruling declares the messages as environmental information under the law, prioritizing public interest over privacy concerns.

The Berlin Administrative Court ruled that SMS exchanges between former Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume must be disclosed under the Environmental Information Act (UIG).
The court determined the messages qualify as environmental information, as they reportedly involve discussions on E-Fuels and a combustion engine ban in July 2022.
The decision emphasizes public interest in transparency, stating Lindner and Blume's roles as public and corporate figures outweigh their privacy interests.
Abgeordnetenwatch, the organization that filed the lawsuit after a 2022 refusal by the Finance Ministry, hailed the ruling as a milestone for government transparency.
The Federal Ministry of Finance retains the right to appeal the decision to the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg.