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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Deutsche Post boss offers to quit | Deutsche Post boss offers to quit |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Deutsche Post boss Klaus Zumwinkel, who is under investigation for tax evasion, has offered to quit. | Deutsche Post boss Klaus Zumwinkel, who is under investigation for tax evasion, has offered to quit. |
| The offer will be considered by the Deutsche Post board on Monday, but the German government backed the decision. | The offer will be considered by the Deutsche Post board on Monday, but the German government backed the decision. |
| Earlier, Peer Steinbrueck, the German Finance Minister, said the scandal had damaged public morale. | Earlier, Peer Steinbrueck, the German Finance Minister, said the scandal had damaged public morale. |
| The inquiry comes amid a government crackdown on wealthy businessman using offshore bank accounts in Liechtenstein to avoid paying taxes. | |
| The German government is a major shareholder in Deutsche Post, which also owns global delivery firm DHL. | The German government is a major shareholder in Deutsche Post, which also owns global delivery firm DHL. |
| A government spokesman said: "The federal government welcomes the decision that's been offered." | A government spokesman said: "The federal government welcomes the decision that's been offered." |
| A spokesman for the Finance Ministry added that the government would make a "recommendation" that Mr Zumwinkel step down at a full board meeting on Monday. | A spokesman for the Finance Ministry added that the government would make a "recommendation" that Mr Zumwinkel step down at a full board meeting on Monday. |
| Suspicions | Suspicions |
| On Thursday, the Deutsche Post boss was quizzed by police and his home and office were raided. | On Thursday, the Deutsche Post boss was quizzed by police and his home and office were raided. |
| Prosecutors say that it is suspected he avoided paying 1m euros (£750,000; $1.4m) in taxes using banks in Lichtenstein. | Prosecutors say that it is suspected he avoided paying 1m euros (£750,000; $1.4m) in taxes using banks in Lichtenstein. |
| He has not yet made a public statement about the allegations. | He has not yet made a public statement about the allegations. |
| John Allan, the British finance director at Deutsche Post, has been tipped by some analysts as a likely successor. | John Allan, the British finance director at Deutsche Post, has been tipped by some analysts as a likely successor. |
| Reputation soured | Reputation soured |
| Mr Zumwinkel, 63, is one of Germany's most influential business figures, credited with transforming the postal service into a logistics giant, as well as developing its retail banking arm, Postbank. He has been chief executive of Deutsche Post for 18 years. | Mr Zumwinkel, 63, is one of Germany's most influential business figures, credited with transforming the postal service into a logistics giant, as well as developing its retail banking arm, Postbank. He has been chief executive of Deutsche Post for 18 years. |
| He is one of the longest-serving chief executives of a German blue chip company and also heads the supervisory board of Deutsche Telekom. | He is one of the longest-serving chief executives of a German blue chip company and also heads the supervisory board of Deutsche Telekom. |
| But he is no stranger to controversy. | But he is no stranger to controversy. |
| He sold about 5m euros worth of shares after the introduction of the minimum wage for postal workers - which he fought for - boosted the company's share price. | He sold about 5m euros worth of shares after the introduction of the minimum wage for postal workers - which he fought for - boosted the company's share price. |
| German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said: "If the public has something like this as a role model then they'll start having doubts about this economic and social system. I didn't think this was possible." | German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said: "If the public has something like this as a role model then they'll start having doubts about this economic and social system. I didn't think this was possible." |