Unhealthy timing! German finance minister will get caught hiding his watch on TV – POLITICO

BERLIN — German Finance Minister Christian Lindner was spotted placing on his luxurious wristwatch on the finish of a TV discuss present look, resulting in accusations from political rivals that he was attempting to disguise his wealth.

Lindner, who leads the business-friendly Free Democrats, appeared on German public broadcaster ZDF’s discuss present “maybrit illner” final week. When the credit began rolling on the finish of the present, the Porsche-driving finance minister pulled out a wristwatch that appeared like his Rolex Milgauss, costs of which might begin within the excessive 4 figures.

Each the finance ministry and Lindner’s spokesperson declined to remark and refused to reply why Lindner didn’t put on his watch throughout the broadcast, however then put it on on the finish. French President Emmanuel Macron confronted related scrutiny final month, when he was noticed covertly taking off his watch in the course of a TV look.

A staffer from “maybritt illner“‘s editorial workplace instructed POLITICO “there are not any guidelines” about visitors’ visible look. It is the participant’s selection whether or not to put on a watch or not, the staffer added. Making an attempt to appropriate the report in France final month, the Elysée claimed Macron took off the watch as a result of he “tapped it in opposition to the desk, inflicting a slightly loud noise,” in keeping with French media.

Lindner’s fellow panelists — Lars Klingbeil, secretary-general of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, and Omid Nouripour, co-leader of the Inexperienced social gathering — each wore watches.

Some viewers — and political opponents — accused Lindner of taking off his fancy watch to cover his wealth and seem extra right down to earth.

Lindner, who was a administration guide and entrepreneur earlier than and initially of his political profession, earns round €20,000 gross monthly as a federal minister. He receives additional remuneration for his Bundestag mandate. Lindner has repeatedly been a member of both the regional parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia or the Bundestag since 2000. In accordance with ntv, including up all of his extra revenue from 2017 to 2021, the FDP chief obtained a minimum of half one million euros along with his Bundestag wage.

“You may see how out of contact Lindner is by the truth that he hides the fats Rolex throughout the discuss [show], however instantly takes it out afterward,” tweeted Marlon Borchers, a consultant of the Left Get together’s youth group.

When Social Democrat Sawsan Chebli confronted backlash in 2018 for sporting a Rolex Datejust, Lindner tweeted “let her put on [a] Rolex. You do not have to be poor to be in opposition to poverty.”