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Kohl raises $3m for fines
Helmut Kohl speaking to reporters
By Rob Broomby in Berlin
The disgraced former German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, has been giving details of his fund-raising activities, aimed at helping the Christian Democrat Party pay fines imposed as a result of a slush-fund scandal.
He told a news conference that he had so far raised almost $3m (£2m), and he named the donors who had come forward to offer financial support.
Mr Kohl, looking calm and once again in control of events, said his aim was to help cover the $21m fines imposed as a result of his previous failure to declare anonymous donations.
The disgraced former German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, has been giving details of his fund-raising activities, aimed at helping the Christian Democrat Party pay fines imposed as a result of a slush-fund scandal.
He told a news conference that he had so far raised almost $3m (£2m), and he named the donors who had come forward to offer financial support.
Mr Kohl, looking calm and once again in control of events, said his aim was to help cover the $21m fines imposed as a result of his previous failure to declare anonymous donations.
I have not named them and I won't name them  |
Dr Helmut Kohl
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The scandal brought the CDU to the edge of destruction.
This time, he identified the source of the donations. They included $500,00 (£300,000) from publisher Leo Kirsch and $250,000 (£160,000) from the Swiss-based Nestle chocolate giants.
Dr Kohl and his wife have themselves donated $350,000 by remortgaging their home.
From Britain came a donation of around $15,000 from the publishing magnate Lord Weidenfeld. In all, 30 donors were named.
The former Chancellor denied outright trying to buy favour or to exert influence over the choice of the future party leader.
He said the CDU remained his political home, and he rejected calls on him to resign his seat in parliament, saying he would return to the Bundestag shortly.
But, asked if he would name the original anonymous donors, he remained steadfast: "I've not named them and I won't name them," he said.
Political achievements
Mr Kohl said a special bank account had been set up in the city of Essen, and the money would be transferred to the Christian Democrat party treasurer.
He said the donors wanted to honour his political achievements.
Dr Kohl has admitted receiving two million marks in illegal campaign donations while chancellor.
The scandal severely damaged his reputation as a leading European statesman and architect of German unification.
This time, he identified the source of the donations. They included $500,00 (£300,000) from publisher Leo Kirsch and $250,000 (£160,000) from the Swiss-based Nestle chocolate giants.
Dr Kohl and his wife have themselves donated $350,000 by remortgaging their home.
From Britain came a donation of around $15,000 from the publishing magnate Lord Weidenfeld. In all, 30 donors were named.
The former Chancellor denied outright trying to buy favour or to exert influence over the choice of the future party leader.
He said the CDU remained his political home, and he rejected calls on him to resign his seat in parliament, saying he would return to the Bundestag shortly.
But, asked if he would name the original anonymous donors, he remained steadfast: "I've not named them and I won't name them," he said.
Political achievements
Mr Kohl said a special bank account had been set up in the city of Essen, and the money would be transferred to the Christian Democrat party treasurer.
He said the donors wanted to honour his political achievements.
Dr Kohl has admitted receiving two million marks in illegal campaign donations while chancellor.
The scandal severely damaged his reputation as a leading European statesman and architect of German unification.
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