By Juan Moreno
Germany's powerful auto lobby has many connections to government.
Representing a position is work Wissmann knows well. Before it was his own position, now it’s that of the companies that pay his salary. Technically, not much has changed. “The job reminds me strongly of my time as transport minister,” says Wissmann. He didn’t even have to replace his staff. Next to him sits Andreas Kraus, his press officer, a soft-spoken blond man wearing a three-piece suit. Kraus filled the same role for Wissmann during his time in the Bundestag. When asked whether his job has changed much, Kraus answers: “Nope.”
When one accompanies Matthias Wissmann about his work for a while, it quickly becomes clear that the difference between his work as a politician and as VDA president is indeed small. Before he sat behind his minister’s desk and lobbyists came through the door wanting something from him; now he’s the one coming through the door. Basically only the seating arrangement has changed.
Both lobbyists and politicians fight for certain interests, both work to persuade, both depend on good contacts and majorities. One does it for money, the other -- if the voters are lucky -- for the common good. Lobbying is what is left when the ideals are taken out of politics.
A couple of days after his stay in Brussels, Wissmann is in Berlin again. He has work to take care of in his legal office, located on the 22nd floor of a downtown building. He looks out over Berlin and can see the Reichstag, the Chancellery and Tiergarten park. He says he enjoys the view from up here.
“I’ve always believed in the American principle of alternating between politics and business,” he says. “Both sides learn from each other, helping to dispel prejudices.” Wissmann doesn’t see it as problematic for a politician to become a lobbyist. “It just needs to be done properly. Everyone needs to know who you’re working for. Just like in my case.” It sounds as if one could simply abandon old convictions, old interests and old connections.
For his new job, Wissmann had to adapt a great deal, but gave up very little. Angela Merkel had thought of making him Germany's European commissioner, but those were just plans, while becoming Germany’s most important lobbyist was a concrete offer -- and the VDA president’s very high salary didn’t hurt either.
A few months ago, it looked like the European Commission was going to get serious about climate protection and force manufacturers to make more efficient cars. They wanted to take drastic measures, and quickly.
Enter Matthias Wissmann. He’s won auto manufacturers an extra seven years. It looks like he was a good investment, worth every cent they pay him.
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