Overview
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ARD that accusations against Culture and Media Commissioner Wolfram Weimer have been proven false.
- Reports say private participants can pay up to €80,000 for the Ludwig Erhard Summit to network with senior politicians.
- The summit’s site lists several federal and regional ministers as speakers, though some have distanced themselves from a related executive event.
- A government spokesman said participating ministers would receive neither payment nor other services at the summit.
- Weimer says he relinquished roles and voting rights and put shares in a blind trust, rejects canceling the event, and faces criticism from SPD and AfD as FAZ publisher Jürgen Kaube issues a sharp commentary questioning his conduct.