Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
February 10, 2012
Westerwelle attacks homophobic: colleague
Published: 17 Mar 10 08:56 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20100317-25921.html
The hailstorm of criticism that has battered Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle lately over his travel entourage was partly driven by homophobia, his ministerial colleague Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said Wednesday.
- Westerwelle calls criticism of trips 'slander' - Politics (15 Mar 10)
- Westerwelle’s taboo travels - Analysis & Opinion (15 Mar 10)
Questions have been raised about the role of Westerwelle’s partner Michael Mronz on an official government trip last week to South America. Mronz, an event manager who specialises in sporting events, had visited charitable organisations as part of his role with philanthropic groups, Westerwelle said.
Critics noted that one of the countries visited, Brazil, is hosting the Football World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 and that Mronz could have gained access to useful business contacts via Westerwelle’s connections.
But Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger dismissed that possibility.
“I have never heard questions asked about the profession of wives of ministers travelling with (their husbands),” she said. “With Westerwelle’s partner, that is a huge issue.”
Westerwelle has also been accused of taking his brother on his official trips, as well as businessmen close to his pro-business FDP party, who then use the occasions to secure deals.
Westerwelle recently hit back at the charges as “slander.”
"During the (South America) trip, Michael Mronz visited several social establishments and gave private donations to projects that benefit children. He has not taken part in any political discussions but he went along to help children in the poor areas after the earthquake in Chile or in Brazil," he said.
DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
Brutal cold triggers reserve power plants
After exporting power to France earlier this week, Germany has switched on reserve energy plants amid surging demand for electricity due to the ongoing deep freeze hitting Europe. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
Artist compensated for two lost French fries
A Munich court on Thursday awarded an artist €2,000 in damages because a gallery lost two 22-year-old chips that were the basis of an artwork in which the fries lay across each other in a cross. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Star cyclist Ullrich found guilty of doping
Germany’s most famous cyclist Jan Ullrich was found guilty of doping and stripped of his third place in the 2005 Tour de France by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
Germany expels four Syrian diplomats
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday Germany was expelling four diplomats from the Syrian embassy in Berlin after the arrest of two men suspected of spying on regime opponents. READ (1 COMMENT) »
Berlinale opens with revolutionary drama
Diane Kruger stars as Marie Antoinette in "Farewell My Queen," a lush costume drama set on the eve of the French Revolution that will open the 62nd Berlin film festival on Thursday. READ (1 COMMENT) »
Rent-jumping family caught by police
An eight-person family that avoided paying rent for years by moving house every two to three weeks has finally been caught in the northern German town of Schneverdingen. READ (7 COMMENTS) »
What's on in Germany: February 9 - 15
This Week's Highlights: The star-studded Berlinale film festival kicks off in Berlin, Munch goes on view in Frankfurt, and a ukelele orchestra sets up in Munich. READ »
Sick pups found in van
German police this week rescued 92 puppies from a van, after the dogs had spent 13 hours being transported across Europe without food or water. READ (5 COMMENTS) »
More Politics
- 08/02 Merkel helps boost conservatives' popularity (10 comments) »
- 07/02 Wulff case 'a chance to open up German politics' (1 comment) »
- 06/02 Sarkozy looks to Merkel for re-election help (3 comments) »
- 05/02 Wulff under fire over car lease deal (11 comments) »
- 04/02 Politician slammed for remarks on Sharia courts (30 comments) »
- 03/02 Cake in the face for 'Baron Cut-and-Paste' (17 comments) »
- 03/02 Most Germans want president to resign (4 comments) »
- 02/02 UK eurosceptic sparks uproar with Nazi jibe (34 comments) »
- 02/02 Merkel urges China to press Iran over nukes (2 comments) »
- 01/02 Wulff faces new claims of improprieties (1 comment) »
Highlights
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
KFZ-Sachverstaendigenbuero Detlef Buchwald
I am an unaffiliated and impartial automotive appraiser -
Greenback Expat Tax Services
US expat tax preparation services, specializing in Americans living in Germany -
Greenback Expat Tax Services
US expat tax preparation services for American owned companies in Germany -
tolingo professional translation service
fast and reliable translations in over 35 languages -
Get Grocery
Online shop for wide range of authentic Indian food in Germany/EU -
British Allsorts
Your Corner shop in Munich -
COMPEXX FINANZ AG
Financial services in English: insurance, pensions, investments, mortgages
Sponsored Links
- EXPATTAX - German tax advice in English language - nationwide
- Dolores - Berlin's best California-style burritos!
- Learn German in Germany at one of the largest German schools in Berlin: ESL IH Berlin – booking made easy with ESL – Sprachreisen
- Hundreds of job opportunities for foreign professionals in Germany
- Translation and English writing services
- Find the right relationship
- Your advertisement here
Jobs in Germany, in English
1326 jobs available
721 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today
- Manager Global Quality Development (m/f)
- Manager Global Quality Development (m/f)
- Labor Entwicklungsingenieur (Medizintechnik)
- Biostatistican -SAS- (m/f)
- Teamleiter für die Dokumentationskontrolle
- Sales Manager m/w, Medizintechnik, PLZ 76XXX
- Senior Product and Marketing Manager Air Conditioning / Heating / Ventilation (m/f) (FH, Uni)
- Internship - Investment Funds Services
- Advisor in Invetment Funds Regulation (m/f)
- Commodity Manager - Metal / Plastics
Blog
- Feb/07 Do you like home-made Rock’n Roll with your fries?
- Nov/25 Hop on hop off Berlin
- Nov/25 Shopping in Berlin
- Nov/25 Typical Berlin
- Nov/25 I lost my heart in Kastanienallee
Essentials
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
News from the Goethe-Institut
- The new film from Helmut Dietl
Twenty-five years after his cult TV series, Kir Royal, director Helmut Dietl has now come released a sort of “sequel” for the big screen. - German documentary films
The numerous annual festivals dedicated to documentary films in Germany are proof that the genre explores topics in our society that people feel are relevant – and viewers come in droves to enjoy the premieres. - The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere 2.0? – Answers from Gerhard Schulze
Does the public sphere have a different structure in the digital age than in the past? Some answers from Bamberg sociology professor Gerhard Schulze.... - Dancing is thinking – on the relationship between philosophy and dance
At first glance, dance and philosophy seem to be a contradictory pair. - More Than Just a Dream: The German Digital Library
The German Digital Library, the project of the century that is to make Germany’s cultural heritage freely accessible to everyone, is gradually taking concrete shape....
News from Young Germany
- Weimar has the best international university in Germany
The Bauhaus University in Weimar, Thuringia, describes itself as being eager to experiment, open... - New law clears way for recognition of degrees and training earned abroad
The Upper House of the German Parliament, the Bundesrat, has approved groundbreaking legislation... - Deutsche Literatur im Netz
Wer sich im Ausland für deutsche Literatur interessierte, hatte es früher nicht immer leicht, an... - German research vessel begins Antarctic expedition
The Polarstern—a German research vessel operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and... - Science - a powerhouse of ideas
Scientific insights that can change our world are at the centre of a special scientific conference...
News from DeutschlandOnline
- Fewer animal experiments thanks to nanosensors
Countless mice, rats and rabbits die every year in the name of science – and the situation is... - German employers split over campaign to ban smoking breaks
Employers in Germany have launched a campaign to ban all smoking in the workplace, not just... - Marine Research in Kiel is heading towards new shores
Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel established On January 1, 2012 the former Leibniz... - Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle: Laying down ambitious and binding rules for the euro
Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement in Berlin today (11...
Noticeboard
- 09/02 Looking for family
- 07/02 Help needed
- 06/02 Channel 4 News request - moving to Germany
- 06/02 Native Italian Speaker
- 06/02 Sport-Promotion in Berlin
- 05/02 English Lessons via Skype
Toytown Germany
- 01:36 If the UK declared war on Germany today
- 00:41 Perception of Germany in the UK
- 00:18 Moving from Florida to Stuttgart
- 23:46 VAT Registration Questionnaire Received
- 23:41 Drawing / Painting / Pastelling meetup
- 23:34 Opening a German bank account
- 23:33 International schools in Berlin
- 23:14 Photography Club Munich
- 22:54 Potential position at Rolls Royce Dahlewitz
- 22:47 Drinking & Clubbing In Karlsruhe
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Your comments about this article:
if you go with your partner on a biz trip...okay..
if you go with your relatives and friends on official biz trips...someone is going to raise questions with regards to nepotism and collusions...
That man IS his partner.
But yeah - Westerwelle started talking about some sensible issues - the other politicians, businesspeople and what not feel threatened so they strike back. This is an "old" story, sadly they will eventually win and Westerwelle will shut up.