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Transport Minister Scheuer has rejected the central accusations in the investigation of the toll of the busted cars. In the commission of investigation defended the dismissals of the operating companies in late hour.
In the commission of inquiry into the failed toll, the Federal Minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer (CSU), and the operating companies contradicted each other on key issues. Company representatives said in the marathon session, which lasted until late at night, that they had offered Scheuer at a meeting in November 2018 to postpone the signing of the toll contracts until the judgment of the Union Court of Justice. European (ECJ).
They put Scheuer under great pressure. The minister vehemently rejected the accusations. The reasons for the subsequent termination of the toll contracts by the Ministry of Transport also remained controversial. The opposition now wants to request a cross-examination by the Bundestag commission. Scheuer was the last of five witnesses to testify.
Scheuer defends layoffs
Previously, Scheuer had defended the termination of the contracts with the car toll operators immediately after the negative ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. “We could not be satisfied with the state of implementation,” Scheuer told the parliamentary inquiry committee early in the morning.
This was added to the statutory reason for termination, that is, the sentence. The verdict “unfortunately left no air” to make changes to the car toll system, Scheuer said, so that the toll is ECJ compliant.
Operating companies pressure Scheuer
The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) annulled the car toll planned in June 2019 because it harmed foreign drivers. In exchange for toll payments, domestic car owners should be completely relieved with a lower vehicle tax.
The head of the planned operator CTS Eventim, Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, had massively criticized the termination of the contracts by the federal government immediately after the ECJ ruling. Schoolsberg said Thursday, as a witness in the investigative committee, that everything was on schedule at all times. The ECJ did not question the toll in general, but the simultaneous relief of German motorists.
Businesses demand compensation
The managing director of the joint venture Autoticket founded for the toll, Volker Schneble, spoke of a “short-circuit reaction” as a witness regarding the termination of the contract. The reasons for the termination are important to the ongoing arbitration proceedings between Autoticket shareholders and the federal government.
The companies claim compensation of 560 million euros. The federal government strictly rejects it, noting that the company would not be entitled to claims in the event of termination for various reasons.
The opposition sees many open questions
Following Scheuer’s questioning, the opposition sees many unanswered questions. Greens President Stephan Kühn said early in the morning in Berlin that Scheuer had “gotten into difficult waters” and that witnesses had heavily framed him. “He couldn’t defend himself because he has memory and knowledge gaps in crucial places.”
FDP transport politician Oliver Luksic said Scheuer’s remarks were incredible. “The gaps in memory are not a relief to the minister, the well-founded accusation of lying to parliament and the public still remains.” The Union, on the other hand, was satisfied. Union president Ulrich Lange (CSU) said in view of Scheuer: “He is a minister and he is still a minister.” SPD President Kirsten Lühmann said the poll did not provide the clarity one expected.
