Ex-German President Christian Wulff Criticized for Taking Job With Turkish Shop

Disgraced former German President Christian Wulff has been criticized for taking a job with a Turkish clothes shop. German politicians have said the job with fashion retailer Yargici was unbecoming for a former head of state.

Mr. Wulff resigned in 2012 after a scandal over a 500,000 euro home loan he received when he was head of Lower Saxony.

He was once a deputy leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party, and was chosen by her to for the ceremonial role of president. 

He stepped down from the presidency when it emerged that he had been offered a home loan and also received 720 euros (US$990) in hotel and entertainment costs from German film producer David Grnewold during a visit to Munich's Oktoberfest in 2008.

Mr. Wulff was once a deputy leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party. Source: AP.
Mr. Wulff was once a deputy leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party. Source: AP. 

Mr. Wulff was later forced to apologize for leaving an angry and threatening message on the voicemail of Kai Diekmann, the then editor of Bild, Germany's most popular newspaper.

But in February 2014 he was cleared of any impropriety.

As a former head of state he will receive a salary of 200,000 euros (US$236,000) from the German state from the rest of his life.

The Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday, August 6, that Mr. Wulff had been working for Yargici's German arm since April, shortly before it launched its first shops in Germany.

"Basically it was Mr. Wulff who motivated the company to launch in Germany," said Yargici's managing director in Germany, Erik Schaap. 

Yargici, which sells women's clothing, has been hugely successful in Turkey and Cyprus in the last 40 years and in Germany it hopes to cash in on custom from consumers, including the three million Turks who live in the country.

His wife, Bettina, attended the official opening of Yargici's flagship store in Hamburg with model Franziska Knuppe.

Mr. Wulff, who is a lawyer by profession, has been criticized by his political rivals.

"On the whole, ex-presidents take on honorary positions and don't become legal representatives for fashion companies," said Ralf Stegner, deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). 

"The life-long honorarium is supposed to be there so that former heads of state aren't forced to earn money," Mr. Stegner added.

Mr. Wulff's predecessor, Horst Kohler, gave up his lifetime income after resigning from the presidency after another scandal.

Mr. Wulff was only president for 19 months and during that time he became first German head of state to address the Turkish National Assembly, during which he urged immigrants to "actively engage themselves in our German society."

Before Mr. Wulff's trial in 2014, the only German head of state to be charged with criminal activities was Admiral Karl Donitz, who succeeded Hitler in 1945 and was accused of war crimes.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Merkel chose a prominent SPD politician, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to be the next president, replacing Joachim Gauck, who had taken over from Mr. Wulff in 2012. 

Sputnik News

Other News

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Van affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UNESCO80 reform roadmap, focusing on the organisation’s core mandate, priority areas, interdisciplinary approach, and the special status of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO representative offices, alongside efforts to diversify resources and strengthen global partnerships to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Under General Secretary and President Lam’s leadership, Vietnam is expected to maintain a balanced foreign policy, strengthen its regional standing and accelerate economic development, thereby improving living standards and creating new opportunities for international investors, according to the India-based platform Devdiscourse.

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos will step up agricultural production to ensure food security, meet domestic demand and expand exports; encourage the development of agro-processing industries, including those related to rubber, aquatic products, cassava and sugarcane, as well as fertiliser and animal feed production, in order to increase added value and create jobs in rural areas.

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

To ensure accountability, Malaysia plans to finalise the Cybercrime Bill this year which addresses both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, introducing stricter penalties and prison terms to enhance deterrence.

US public opinion positive about PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit

US public opinion positive about PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit

Public opinion in the US is generally positive about Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to the US from September 17-23 to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which took place immediately after the upgrading of the Vietnam - US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Vietnam.