Drei Tage vor der Wahl: Hannovers CDU-OB-Kandidat spricht über Ermittlungen

Three days before the election, Hannover's CDU-OB candidate Peter Karst confirmed investigations into the city's Handwerkskammer. As the chief executive officer of this chamber, Karst stated that it appeared to be an initial suspicion under investigation. Initially reported by the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung", the focus was on employment relationships of employees who, during their free time, worked as honorarium lecturers and professors, as well as freelance honorarium lecturers.

Karst said, should the investigation yield grounds for action, they would naturally draw the necessary consequences. He supports the legal investigation comprehensively. When asked about who was being investigated - possibly himself or others, Karst said, "I do not wish to make any statement on this at the moment." According to Karst, the Hauptzollamt Hannover conducted a review at the Handwerkskammer in March under the law against undeclared employment.

The subject matter included documents related to employment relationships, working hours, remuneration, and social security contributions from January 1, 2021. What specific employment relationships were involved, he did not know. Karst explicitly denied any search. He confirmed that investigators came to the Handwerkskammer today, and they were cooperating with them.

His private spaces were not searched. Karst accused the election campaign of fabricating rumors in connection with the final phase of the campaign. Systematic destruction of his campaign posters and the disappearance of election campaign postcards from commercial establishments were mentioned. These incidents were documented and reported. Karst did not accuse any specific political rival.