GGGI scandal dooms development minister

The taxpayer-funded climate organisation sinks a top politician, but not the one you might expect

Christian Friis Bach (R) has cut short a trip to Israel to fly home and resign from his position as the development minister, according to a number of sources.

Bach, who was in Israel meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials, wouldn’t comment on the speculation, saying that he would reveal everything at a press conference this afternoon at 13:15.

“I will make a comment at a press conference later today and until then I have no comment. I will let everyone know at the same time,” Bach said, according to TV2 News.

READ MORE: A first-class scandal for 'Luxury Lars'

GGGI to blame
The reports suggest that Bach is stepping down in light of new information related to the climate organisation Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). GGGI came into the spotlight following revelations that Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the opposition leader and former PM, had enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle while serving as chairman of Danish taxpayer-supported GGGI.

An investigation has been initiated to look into the GGGI funding, which Bach, as development minister, is ultimately responsible. Bach, who also serves as a board member of GGGI, recently told parliament that he did not believe that the overspending in South Korea-based organisation equated to corruption.

But the development minister has been heavily criticised for not telling the government about the GGGI mess sooner, despite a report from the South Korean state auditor documenting the over-spending as far back as November 2012.

READ MORE: Development minister aware of climate organisation’s questionable spending

Missing information
The internal auditor of the Development Ministry was due to report late last week how much the government knew about the GGGI mess, but that was reportedly delayed because of missing information.

According to DR Nyheder, the prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt (S), has already informed the government that Bach is stepping down.

It is believed that the Manu Sareen (R), the minister of equality and churches, and Sofie Carsten (R) are the front-runners to replace Bach as development minister.

TOP STORIES

  • Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    A Wall Street Journal article describes that the US will now begin spying in Greenland. This worries the Danish foreign minister, who wants an explanation from the US’s leading diplomat. Greenlandic politicians think that Trump’s actions increase the sense of insecurity

  • Diplomacy meets Westeros: a dinner with the King, Queen – and Jaime Lannister

    Diplomacy meets Westeros: a dinner with the King, Queen – and Jaime Lannister

    What do King Frederik X, Queen Mary, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Jaime Lannister have in common? No, this isn’t the start of a very specific Shakespeare-meets-HBO fanfiction — it was just Wednesday night in Denmark

  • Huge boost to halt dropouts from vocational education

    Huge boost to halt dropouts from vocational education

    For many years, most young people in Denmark have preferred upper secondary school (Gymnasium). Approximately 20 percent of a year group chooses a vocational education. Four out of 10 young people drop out of a vocational education. A bunch of millions aims to change that

  • Beloved culture house saved from closure

    Beloved culture house saved from closure

    At the beginning of April, it was reported that Kapelvej 44, a popular community house situated in Nørrebro, was at risk of closing due to a loss of municipality funding

  • Mette Frederiksen: “If you harm the country that is hosting you, you shouldn’t be here at all”

    Mette Frederiksen: “If you harm the country that is hosting you, you shouldn’t be here at all”

    With reforms to tighten the rules for foreigners in Denmark without legal residency, and the approval of a reception package for internationals working in the care sector, internationals have been under the spotlight this week. Mette Frederiksen spoke about both reforms yesterday.

  • Tolerated, but barely: inside Denmark’s departure centers

    Tolerated, but barely: inside Denmark’s departure centers

    Currently, around 170 people live on “tolerated stay” in Denmark, a status for people who cannot be deported but are denied residency and basic rights. As SOS Racisme draws a concerning picture of their living conditions in departure centers, such as Kærshovedgård, they also suggest it might be time for Denmark to reinvent its policies on deportation

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs