Merkel's husband in the Board of Trustees of the new Springer Foundation (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Foundations have two main functions: first you are a tax shelter. 2 You buy influence with their help.
Of which there are in the house Springer obviously not enough because Friede Springer founded in addition to the already existing, the heart and the Axel Springer Foundation, yet another - the peace Springer Foundation.
( WORLD from 29.1.2011 ): "Berlin (dpa) - publisher Friede Springer has established a foundation for the promotion of science, art, culture and education. The initial capital of Friede Springer Foundation amounts to 80 million euros, as the organization announced on Monday. The money came from the personal assets of the widow of Axel Springer. Chairman of the Foundation, based in Berlin is Friede Springer himself. Sit next to her in the Board of Trustees and the former German President Horst Köhler and the current Federal Commissioner for the Stasi files, Marianne Birthler. The new foundation is independent of the Friede Springer Heart Foundation and the Axel Springer Foundation. "
"Welt am Sonntag : How is the new foundation be structured? And who decides?
Friede Springer: There is a board of trustees, which includes six figures: Marianne Birthler, the physician Manfred Gahr from Dresden, the former German President Horst Köhler, Christoph Markschies, Joachim Sauer (hervorg FB.) And Eric Schweitzer by the Board of ALBA Group. As you can see a wide range, a really highly competent Board of Trustees. It is discussed the proposals. The final decision-making power but I reserve the right, the Board of Trustees has an advisory role. The Foundation will be clearly separated from the Publisher, it will not be a corporate foundation. It is solely my personal project and completely independent of the publisher. The capital of the Foundation comes solely from my assets.
Welt am Sonntag: What is the starting capital of your foundation?
Friede Springer: There is 80 million euros. Since foundations may indeed operate only with the income, annually probably two million euros will be available for the award are available. "
Thus it is clear that Angela Merkel's husband, Prof. Dr. Joachim Sauer, the board of the foundation sits. (more ...)