Construction lion Christoph Gröner (55) donated over 800,000 euros to the Berlin CDU Photo: Michael Huebner
By Stephen Peter
How dangerous can this millionaire be to the governing mayor? A large donation from construction entrepreneur Christoph Gröner (55) to the CDU puts Kai Wegner (50) in a bad light.
That’s what it’s all about: In 2020, Gröner (estimated fortune 80 million euros, four children) and one of his companies donated 820,000 euros to the Berlin CDU. The entrepreneur then claimed that this donation was linked to three conditions, including the Berlin rent cap. He later distanced himself from these statements again – they were made “in the affect” or were meant “as a flippant remark”.
Almost all parties in Germany receive donations from individuals or companies. But: according to the party law, donations may not be earmarked! According to Section 25, they are prohibited if they are “recognisably given in expectation of, or in return for, a specific economic or political advantage”. This is to prevent corruption.
Is the CDU for sale? Country chief Wegner assured the “Tagesspiegel”: “There will never be any concrete consideration with me. There are no contracts that we signed each other.”
Kai Wegner (CDU), Governing Mayor of Berlin Photo: Hannes P. Albert/dpa
Now the organization “Transparency International” (dedicated to fighting corruption) and the Left Party are demanding an investigation into the donation. Both wrote to the President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas (55, SPD), asking her to check it out.
Gröner is relaxed about a possible investigation. The entrepreneur to the BZ: “My heart and my mind is pure. Throughout my life I have always kept my feet on the ground and have not succumbed to any seduction. So what should I fear?”
The name Gröner is mainly associated with the conversion of the Steglitzer Kreisel, he is currently the boss of the Gröner Group AG.
CDU state manager Dirk Reitze (56) to the BZ: “There were and are no verbal or written agreements or conditions for these donations.”