Little comment so far on this list about the financial payoff scandal engulfing the German Christian Democrats and former Chancellor Kohl. The story moved from secret party slush funds to payoffs to encourage the government to sell off East German firms to foreign investors.
If the Ossis were not pissed at the established parties before, this should help solidify the PDS as a political force:
>From the AP:
December 12, 1999 Kohl Implicated in Payoff Scheme Filed at 4:49 p.m. EST
By The Associated Press MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- A French businessman implicated Helmut Kohl in a payoff scheme involving millions of dollars on Sunday, broadening a scandal that has swirled around the former German chancellor since he admitted last month to boosting party finances with secret accounts.
Andre Guelfi told Focus TV that his company, Nobleplac, in Liechtenstein had transferred some $44 million ``to German parties as a commission'' to promote the sale of the former East German oil company Leuna to French oil company Elf-Aquitaine.
Guelfi said he was told by the president of Elf-Aquitaine that Kohl and former French President Francois Mitterrand were aware of the payment, which was allegedly aimed at breaking resistance in Germany to the Leuna purchase by the French company.