Coalition Allies Defend Fin Min As Bank Loan Report Raises Pressure

Finance Minister Christian Lindner remains under pressure following the confirmation that the Berlin attorney general is considering asking the Bundestag to lift the minister's federal immunity in order to investigate the provision of a real estate loan to Lindner from a bank that the minister had appeared for in a promotional video.

• The story first emerged in Tagesspiegel in October, but until now there had not been a sign that authorities might seek to investigate Lindner for impropriety. In May 2022, Lindner recorded video greeting for Karlsruhe-based BBBank's 100th anniversary. According to Bloomberg he already had a home loan with the bank, and went on to take out another loan from the same institution.
• Lindner, the head of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), has received support from his federal coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats and environmentalist Greens. SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil stated that "We work closely and trustingly with Mr. Lindner," Green co-leader Ricarda Lang stated that there is no need for a Cabinet reshuffle.