Accounting fraud, suspected money laundering, an ex-intelligence coordinator and a former minister as lobbyists, and unanswered questions about a trip by the chancellor: the dimensions of the wirecard scandal are growing ever larger – and the political process of coming to terms with it is only just beginning.

An investigative committee is becoming more likely. Many questions remain unanswered – one key question is: was wirecard, as a german fintech company and rising borsen star, handled with kid gloves by regulators despite indications of irregularities?

The damage is already gross. Thousands of investors have been cheated as the share price of the former dax company plunged into the abyss. The federal government is confronted with the accusation that it is only contributing to clarification in bits and pieces.

In june, the payment service provider, which has since become insolvent, admitted to air bookings of 1.9 billion euros. The munich public prosecutor’s office assumes that wirecard has been reporting fictitious profits since 2015, and is investigating the company on charges of professional gang fraud. The damage to the lending banks and investors could total 3.2 billion euros. Central questions in the political reappraisal are when exactly the federal government knew about irregularities and whether it did too little about them.

On monday, FDP politician florian toncar spoke of a "multiple state failure" at various levels. Despite clear indications of irregularities, the financial supervisory authority bafin had not taken the necessary steps. In addition, suspicious reports of money laundering prior to the wirecard insolvency had only been inadequately investigated.

After the special session on tuesday, in which bafin chief felix hufeld is also expected to participate, it will be decided whether the opposition will draw the "sharp sword" of an investigative committee. The latter had access to the files and was able to question witnesses – but had little time for a comprehensive explanation because elections will be held next fall.

FDP and left-wing parties want a U-committee – but they don’t want to vote for it together with the afd. So now it’s all up to the greens, who first wanted to wait for the special meetings of the finance committee. The green politician danyal bayaz, however, made it clear on monday that there is a high probability that a committee of inquiry will be set up. Together, the FDP, left-wing and grune parties achieved the required quorum of one-fourth of the deputies.

A committee of inquiry was then set up by parliament the following week, and the list of witnesses was quite impressive: in addition to SPD candidate for chancellor and finance minister olaf scholz and economics minister peter altmaier (CDU), chancellor angela merkel (CDU) was also invited to testify.

On monday, opposition politicians targeted the chancellor’s office in particular; representatives of the government headquarters were questioned in committee. The main issue was that merkel had promoted wirecard’s entry into the chinese market during a trip to china in september 2019. The chancellor had emphasized that it was customary to address the concerns of german companies during foreign trips. It was not aware of any irregularities at wirecard at the time.

In the fall of 2019, however, there were long critical reports, especially from the "financial times," about irregularities at wirecard. On monday, members of the CDU/CSU pointed the finger at the SPD-led finance ministry and bafin, which had not passed on "warnings" about wirecard to the chancellor’s office.

The SPD, on the other hand, tried to focus on the chancellor’s office. SPD politician cansel kiziltepe said that the "wirecard lobbyism" in the chancellor’s office was frightening. Background: the former secret service coordinator in the chancellor’s office, klaus-dieter fritsche, as well as the former defense minister, karl-theodor zu guttenberg (CSU), had lobbied for wirecard.

It is "frightening" how blue-eyed the chancellor’s office is in dealing with the issue of lobbying, said lisa paus, a member of parliament for the green party. If you want the support of the federal government in germany, you apparently have to turn to former ministers or state secretaries – and then get a "free ride" for appointments even with the chancellor.

And then there’s the fugitive former wirecard sales director, jan marsalek, who is said to play a key role in the scandal. As the "handelsblatt" reported with reference to marsalek’s acquaintances, he is on a property near moscow. There he is under the supervision of the russian foreign intelligence service SWR.

In a response to a question from left-wing politician fabio de masi, the federal government writes that it is not aware of marsalek’s current whereabouts. The question of marsalek’s extradition in the context of the investigation against him falls within the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agencies and the courts.

After the special meeting of the finance committee, there is much to suggest that, in addition to the criminal investigation, a parliamentary committee of inquiry will be set up. Left-wing politician de masi, at least, is pretty sure about that. He bet a red wine that the greens would agree to a U-committee, he said before the meeting began.

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Norbert gundelach

for twelve years now, the couple steffi and freddy greubel have been running a trodele store in mainstrabe. "The idea to open my own troll store came to me when i visited the ‘wuhlkiste’ in eltmann. But we don’t see ourselves as a competitor to the ‘wuhlkiste’ stores in the district, and we never wanted to be", tells steffi greubel.
"Nowadays, people throw away so many things that were still usable. We want to help people who don’t have the money to buy something new", explains steffi greubel. When her husband then retired, she put her dream into practice.

Rough storage space

In the property in the mainstrabe the parents of freddy greubel formerly ran a small farm. The barn and stables have now been converted into storage rooms. The 400-square-meter warehouse is full to bursting with products.
What is stored there for sale, can not be fully paid for here. Mainly furniture, household goods, tableware, china, carpets, clothing, tools, lamps, bicycles and much more.
"It all seems messy at first glance, but we still know exactly where to look for and find what", remarks the 55-year-old with a smile. The merchandise comes to a large extent from household lots. "In the event of a death, for example, or when an apartment has to be given up, the descendants and tenants are happy to have someone take care of the apartment. We clean the rooms and in return we get the furnishings as a gift. So far I have always found what I am looking for. But I have not yet found a treasure", says freddy greubel and laughs. "Sometimes people bring me something. They regret throwing away their things that can still be used."

Predominantly regular customers

It is obvious to the couple that they are having fun with their business. "I like to do it, even if it doesn’t make me rich – today I’ve already earned two euros, freddy remarks mischievously. "The other day, a boy came to me for a bicycle for ten euros. He was happy, and so was I, because I had made him happy!"
Most of his customers are regulars. But occasionally tourists or cyclists from the nearby maintal cycle path also stray into the store.
Currently, especially the cake buffets from the 50s and 60s and ornate picture frames are in demand. Even antiquities dealers from bamberg regularly came to eltmann in search of a rarity, the couple recounts. "Steffi’s trodel barn" is open on weekdays from 2 to 6 p.M.
Even if you don’t find anything you need during your visit, there’s plenty to see and discover in the trodelscheune.

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There was a great deal of interest in the first of five castle meetings, at which castle mayor karlheinz kickuth presented a comprehensive report in the schutzenheim.
Although there have been talks about the protection of larm on the autobahn, the federal authorities do not see any need for action, according to karlheinz kickuth. The municipality had to finance the construction work itself.
The rejuvenation of the three existing freeway bridges, on the other hand, was currently being tested. The necessity of concrete replacements could not be judged conclusively yet. In this context, kickuth also addressed the issue of noise protection on the B 287 and the kreisstrabe 37 near langendorf, which still requires clarification.

Wall at the multi-generation square

Kickuth said that according to the authorities, the traffic load on the elfershausen section of the freeway had hardly changed. The mayor explained to the astonished listeners that payments had even shown a slight decline. Even with a six-lane expansion of the autobahn and a new bridge construction, larm protection walls or ramparts were not feasible due to legal regulations.
Criticism was voiced about the multigenerational square. The site, which was opened in april 2017, was under water by the end of the year due to persistent rainfall, causing considerable damage. To prevent this in the future, a higher protective wall is needed at the shore zones. Foreign material, which the authorities had not allowed in the initial planning, should prevent flooding of the square in the future. Ingo graser asked who would pay for the overhaul, but was not told, as it was decided in a closed session.
This challenged the criticism of alfons schmitt, who said: "no one takes responsibility". Kickuth disagreed. He referred to the planning prepared by the water management office and the government, which was implemented as follows. However, the storage material was not enough to build higher dams. This is now to be made up with the approval of the authorities.
Also for the renovation of the old school building and its transformation into a "house of associations critical questions were asked to the mayor. Angelika kohlhepp doubts that a house is necessary for the increasing number of clubs in elfershausen. "The renovation costs a lot of money. Can’t the clubs be accommodated elsewhere??", she asked.
Kickuth agreed that the mabnahme is expensive, but that this is mainly due to fire protection. But the building, whose renovation will begin after easter, is "a piece of local history" and belongs to the ensemble church-school-parsonage, the former center of the village, he argued.
In the area of the "rosenhugel the community wants to preserve the gewolbekeller after demolition of a building. In the opinion of herbert edelmann, this is not sensible. "Once the roof is missing, the cellar becomes damp." Kickuth clarified that the cellar was parallel to the property line of a neighbor’s house, which could be damaged when the cellar was demolished. "The barrel vault needs to be secured. For this a statics is necessary", he defended the mabnahme.
In general, angelika kohlhepp denied the purchase of land and houses "for which the municipality had no use". The mayor said that the situation was different in the past. "Nevertheless, we can use the property ourselves or lease it out", he stated.

30 building sites

To the prominent tree removals in the district elferhausen pays the residential and mixed area "trimberger weg". This is where the development work began last year. The new residential area has 30 building sites, in the mixed area six commercial sites are buildable. This is also where the new fire station is being built. The erschliebung should be ready at the end of 2018.

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For more than 100 years, the grand hotel des bains has been considered one of the best addresses on the lido. Not only did thomas mann make it famous with "death in venice," but during the film festival it was also visited by countless stars.

In 2010, however, it was closed and stood empty after failed reconstruction plans – until now. For the 75. Filmfest the legendary house has now been reopened, at least partially.

On the first floor visitors can see an exhibition on the history of the festival. Photos and film excerpts tell of directors and works that have already been celebrated here. Who of this 75. It is, of course, still unclear how the festival will be remembered. But the opening film on wednesday already raised hopes of a strong competition: "first man".

After the oscar-winning musical "la la land," 33-year-old director damien chazelle worked with ryan gosling again for this one. He plays the space pioneer neil armstrong, who was the first man to walk on the moon in july 1969. "First man" focuses on the long journey of armstrong and all the scientists who made this milestone possible. But the film also looks at armstrong’s personal life, how he lost his young daughter, and how the risks of the space program led to tensions in his marriage.

One can only imagine how another director would have turned this story into a patriotic heroic work. But chazelle avoids exactly that. Accordingly, the first moment on the moon is rather quiet for him. No U.S. Flag is rammed into the ground to the sound of loud, droning music.

Instead, chazelle subtly hints at the challenges and dangers. How the astronauts are flung wildly back and forth during the launch, how every screw is threatening to fly out due to the pressure. Political and social criticism is also voiced: why does so much money have to be spent on the race to the moon when there is poverty and social ills in the USA, especially for african americans??

"I don’t think neil saw himself as an american hero," gosling explained the approach. In any case, he never got that impression from his research. "I believe that this was seen primarily as a milestone for humanity."For him, astronauts like armstrong are also special people, "belonging to a different species".

"First man" is the first entry in the race for the festival’s golden len. 20 more will follow in the coming days. Only one is from a woman – which was criticized in advance. Jury president guillermo del toro also spoke out before the evening’s opening ceremony in favor of absolute equality of opportunity for men and women in the film business: "the goal must be clear: by the year 2020, the ratio must be 50:50," the mexican demanded.

The low number of women behind the camera, in production and other areas is "a real problem, in culture as a whole". The problem must be solved in all areas. "This must not be just a gesture, it is a necessity."

When the prizes were awarded on 8. September such discussions will probably not play a role. Del toro stressed that he was also not interested in the debate about productions by the streaming service netflix. "I think the films have to be judged by what they show on the screen," said the oscar award winner ("shape of water"). The rest is another debate. The jury’s task is in any case "a very serious one". "I really hope I’ll be surprised and discover something."

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In the context of the "my account" campaign volksbank forchheim donates 30 euros from its own coffers for every account opened. Depending on the choice of the bank customers, donations are made to associations or charitable organizations in the region. At the halay point of the campaign, gregor scheller, chairman of the board of volksbank forchheim, handed over the first check on tuesday. The prize of 1100 euros went to lebenshilfe forchheim. This was the highest amount of donations that went to one of the participating organizations.

On behalf of lebenshilfe, its chairman rolf-christian platzek expressed his thanks. "There is no specific purpose for the money yet", explained platzek. But one thing is certain for him: the money goes directly to where it is needed. "Support is always needed here", emphasized platzek. His organization's field of activity begins with the early needs of disabled people and extends through their kindergarten and school years to support in retirement.

"The fabric of society remains healthy," says

Volksbank boss scheller is particularly keen to support the region with the donation campaign. He also sees his bank's responsibility as "creating a good sense of community". Mutual support keeps the fabric of society healthy", explains scheller.

Until the end of march, that's how long the "meinkonto" will run-the participating associations can be happy about every new account opening.

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Labor minister hubertus heil (SPD) has rejected criticism from the union of his proposals for a basic pension. "I am thus implementing the goals of the basic pension, which are firmly anchored in the coalition agreement: recognition of life’s work and avoidance of old-age poverty."

Someone who has worked for decades has the right to receive a significantly higher pension than someone who has not worked, heil told the "rheinische post. "That is why there is to be no requirement for a conviction. After all, it’s not about almosen, it’s about life performance."

The labor minister’s plans call for millions of low-income earners to automatically receive higher pensions after a long working life. Small pensions are to be topped up by up to 447 euros a month. The union criticizes above all the fact that the actual need is not to be examined – in contrast to what was agreed in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD.

As far as financing is concerned, the labor minister said: "my goal is to finance the basic pension from tax revenues. I know that this will be a major effort, but the recognition of life’s achievements must be worth something to society as a whole."As soon as his house had worked out a draft, one would take up discussion with the union, so heil.

CDU chairwoman annegret kramp-karrenbauer had already announced that the topic would be discussed at the next coalition committee on 13 june. February on the agenda – and criticizes that heil’s concept goes far beyond the decisions of the coalition agreement.

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Black. Red. Gold. The german colors appear discreetly on sebastian vettel’s racing bike, with which the four-time formula 1 world champion arrived at the drivers’ camp at the hockenheimring on friday. The flag is painted in small honeycombs on the frame of the gefahrts.

A grand prix like this in front of home fans is at least a little bit special for every formula 1 driver. For the ferrari driver, who was born not far from hockenheim in heppenheim, the little bit is a bit rougher. Vettel has yet to win on the traditional course in north baden. Last year, he was very close, but a mistake on a wet track 15 laps from the end cost him an almost tangible success.

Except for the result, the weekend was fantastic, vettel said, pointing out some of the factors that made the weekend so special: "the many fans, the many german flags, the enthusiasm around the track."To drive in the home country, that is simply "always special".

The question for vettel and the second german formula 1 driver nico hulkenberg is: how much longer? The last grand prix at the nurburgring was in 2013; due to the insolvency of the eifel circuit, no formula 1 race was held at a german track in 2015 for the first time in 55 years.

The organizers of the hockenheimring can no longer earn money with the grand prix itself. After the boom surrounding record-breaking world champion michael schumacher, who secured germany’s first ever home victory here in july 1995, faded, losses began to add up for the operators. "Today we are in a position to maintain the most necessary, to invest the most necessary, but due to the debt burden, which is around 28 million euros, we are currently unable to make any major investments," managing director georg seiler told the german press agency.

Formula 1 was once again allowed to make a detour around hockenheim in 2020. The current edition was only saved by mercedes stepping in as title sponsor and giving its silver arrows a special livery. Other racetracks are subsidized by the state, other racetracks simply have more money.

Seiler has known the pain of separation for a long time, but he still feels sorry for it. "Formula 1 has only become really big in germany, it has a tradition here. Many companies, not least suppliers or manufacturers, are involved in formula 1. Many jobs depend on it," he explained.

One of the most coveted formula 1 jobs has hulkenberg. The emmerich man from renault continues to believe that the D site, which has produced the three world champions schumacher (7), vettel (4) and nico rosberg (1), is strong. "We are a car nation and love our cars. The interest is still there," he said. "In general, i think the public’s appetite and interest is still very much alive."

Vettel blames the decline in spectator interest in recent years on a number of fundamental decisions made by formula 1 bosses. Among other things, he complains that the rules are too tight and have made racing less attractive. The name schumacher, according to vettel, could help motorsport in germany get back on its feet. Meaning the son of the record-breaking world champion, mick.

Currently driving the 20-year-old in formula 2, before qualifying on saturday (13.05 a.M.) and before the race on sunday (12 p.M.).45 o’clock) the ferrari-zogling will sit down at the wheel of the F2004 of the scuderia and turn demo laps. In that red car, his father won his last of an unprecedented seven world championship titles in 2004. "To have mick on the threshold of formula 1 and hopefully one day to have him among us, that would be great," said vettel, "and hopefully a great boost for germany."

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