Germany’s Federal Minister for Culture and Media, Wolfram Weimer, has been accused of selling access to politicians at an exclusive event for up to €80,000.
The allegations – published today by online outlet Apollo News – centre on the Ludwig Erhard Summit, a business conference for German “opinion makers” due to take place in April 2026 on Tegernsee lake in Bavaria.
The summit is led by Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Söder, a heavyweight member of Weimer’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to the CDU.
The list of speakers includes some of the top personnel of the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz such as his chief of staff Thorsten Frei, federal technology minister Dorothee Bär and Katherina Reiche, federal economics minister.
According to news reports Merz himself may make an appearance at the summit.
One of the media partners of the event is Weimer Media Group – co-founded and co-owned by Weimer – which publishes several magazines and hosts networking events.
As Apollo reveals, the group has now sent out leaflets to select German companies advertising “exclusive access to political decision makers” for hefty prices of up to €80,000.
The media company offers three packages named after Alpine mountains. The basic package Zugspitze for €40,000 includes 10 tickets for the event as well as a spot on the stage for one of the summit’s many expert panels.
For €60,000, the Matterhorn package comes with an additional participation in the summit’s “exclusive executive night” – where, as Weimer Media Group emphasises, several ministers will be in attendance.
Finally, the priciest offer, the Mont Blanc package for €80,000, comes with a slot in a “meeting lounge for confidential conversations”.
The revelations have caused a stir in Germany with many on the right accusing minister Weimer of corruption.
Former Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Frauke Petry wrote on X today: “The right hand of Friedrich Merz, Wolfram Weimer, is selling the presence of ministers at lobbying events for bargain prices of up to €80,000. Do you need to know anything else about this government?”
Weimer, former editor-in-chief of newspaper Welt, is a close friend of Merz with whom is reportedly on first-name terms.
The Bavarian Government of Söder has now started compliance proceedings to review its affiliation with the Ludwig Erhard Summit, Apollo reported today.
Weimer did not respond to media requests for comment. Brussels Signal reached out to Weimer Media Group but had not heard back at the time of writing.
