CDU Politician Caroline Bosbach to Address Allegations in Meeting with Local Board

Caroline Bosbach, a member of the CDU in the Bundestag, is set to address allegations made against her in a meeting with the local board of the CDU Rhein-Berg this weekend. The CDU Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis announced that a previously scheduled meeting for Saturday has been postponed to facilitate this discussion.

The local board had initially requested that Bosbach respond to open questions regarding the allegations by Friday, aiming for transparency regarding the situation. However, it has now been decided that a personal meeting will take place between Bosbach and representatives of the executive local board to discuss these matters directly and to outline the next steps. Details regarding the time and location of the meeting will remain confidential. The rescheduled board meeting will take place at a later date, with a new date yet to be announced.

The allegations against Bosbach are connected to her election to the board of the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) in her electoral district in 2023. Reports indicate that Bosbach allegedly promised a payment of EUR90 for entry into the MIT, with some instances suggesting the amount may have been rounded up to EUR100. Additionally, there are claims of offering complimentary catering to secure the election of the leadership team, which included Bosbach.

In response to these allegations, Bosbach has firmly denied any wrongdoing. In a video message, she expressed her hope for a swift resolution to the matter in light of the ongoing local election campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia. She informed CDU members in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis that she would refrain from attending campaign events until the situation is clarified, citing concerns that the alleged falsehoods would dominate discussions during her public appearances.

Furthermore, there have been additional reports alleging that Bosbach may have accepted EUR2,500 from a CDU party account through indirect means. Bosbach, the daughter of long-serving CDU Bundestag member Wolfgang Bosbach, has rejected these claims, asserting that she has not benefited financially and that no harm has come to the CDU Rhein-Berg. She characterized the situation as a smear campaign against her. Bosbach has expressed her support for the local board's decision to submit all relevant documents to the Cologne public prosecutor's office for independent examination, confirming her full cooperation in the investigation.

This ongoing situation continues to unfold as party members and the public await further developments.