CDU demands clarity from Verheugen
Hamburg (RPO). The CDU increases the pressure on the Vice President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen (SPD). The Chairman of the European Committee in the Bundestag, Gunther Krichbaum, asked Verheugen to "finally explain in all its depth to his alleged affair with his cabinet boss Petra Erler.
If the statements of the SPD politician Katrin Fuchs about Verheugen are correct, "the suspicion of favoritism is confirmed," said Krichbaum of the "Bild am Sonntag". If Verheugen does not explain himself, he will continue to damage himself and the office. If Verheugen can not clear the suspicion, "it will be tight," said Krichbaum.
The former SPD member of parliament Fuchs had contradicted Verheugen in the magazine "Bunte", he had no more than a personal friendship relationship with his cabinet boss Petra Erler - neither today nor at the time of Erler's appointment in April 2006. Fuchs said, citing Gabriele Verheugen Her husband has had a relationship with Erler since spring 2005. Gabriele Verheugen had recently separated from her husband.
Verheugen himself rejected the allegations against him. "Politically relevant is a question: when my colleague Ms. Erler was promoted to my cabinet chief, was there a relationship of friendship beyond ours, and does it exist today?" The answer is no, that's the truth, "Verheugen said News magazine "Der Spiegel".