After raids and investigations against Berlin SPD top candidate Steffen Krach, the party has given details of a rejected donation.
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The Hanover public prosecutor's office is investigating the Berlin SPD top candidate Steffen Krach in connection with a procurement procedure for the sale of a clinic in the Hanover region.
After investigations against Berlin SPD top candidate Steffen Krach became known, his party gave further details. According to treasurer Fabian Fischer, there was “an attempt to donate 9,900 euros to the SPD Berlin at the turn of the year.” “On the instructions of our top candidate, it was immediately decided to reject this donation.”
The Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) had previously reported on it. According to the report, an entrepreneur is said to have transferred 9,900 euros to the SPD Berlin account on December 29, 2025. Krach is said to have been informed by the SPD state management on January 7th and ordered the transfer back the day after, the report said. The money was transferred back to the sender on January 9th. A spokesman for the Berlin SPD confirmed the information.
The Hanover public prosecutor's office is investigating Krach, but did not comment on specific allegations and referred to the presumption of innocence. Several properties in Hanover and Berlin were searched on Wednesday.
What is known about the case so far
According to Krach, it is about a procurement process for a clinic sale in the Hanover region, where he is on leave as regional president for the election campaign. He rejected the accusation of influencing as unfounded. He “in no way ever accepted any sum from this bidder, neither privately nor as SPD state chairman.”
A new House of Representatives will be elected in Berlin in a week and a half. Krach moved from Hanover to Berlin in the summer of 2025 to become the top candidate for the SPD. He took a leave of absence from his previous position as regional president.
Krach gets support from his party. Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) told rbb that he reported in great detail yesterday both in the executive state board and in the parliamentary group. He emphasized once again that the allegations were baseless and justified this with facts. “And we have no reason to doubt the truth of his statements.”
Krach explained that the bidding process took place during his term of office, said Giffey. The bidder sent a donation. “In the end he lost the case anyway, but Steffen Krach reacted immediately and said: “I can’t accept this donation.”» The money was transferred back within 24 hours.
The cell phone was picked up with a loud noise
Regarding the question of whether the timing of the investigation shortly before the local elections in Lower Saxony and the Berlin election was at least strange for her, Giffey said: "The timing is very special." One is also surprised at the way his home was searched and his cell phone was taken away. “There is no risk of him fleeing.” But she doesn't want to judge about it.
According to surveys, the Berlin SPD is heading for its historically worst result, and the investigations are becoming known in the middle of the hot election campaign phase. Krach wants to take part in an event with SPD leader Lars Klingbeil today. A discussion by the climate protection movement Fridays for Future with Luisa Neubauer and other Berlin top candidates is also planned.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Steffen Krach takes part in the event with Lars Klingbeil.
Very likely · Within hours
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The Berlin SPD expresses full support for its top candidate Steffen Krach after investigations by the Hanover public prosecutor's office became known. It's about an award process and a rejected donation.