CDU Identifies Ongoing Disputes Concerning Caroline Bosbach
In the latest developments surrounding CDU federal MP Caroline Bosbach, allegations of irregularities have emerged in relation to her election to the executive board of the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) in her Rheinisch-Bergischer constituency in 2023. The allegations include the indirect acceptance of 2,500 euros from a CDU party account and suspected vote buying and cash payments to secure a board position [1][2].
Bosbach has strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations a smear campaign and stating she has not profited nor caused harm to the CDU Rhein-Berg. She has refrained from public campaign events due to concerns that the allegations, which came to light during the ongoing local election campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia, would dominate discourse [1].
The CDU district board in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis initially gave Bosbach a deadline of August 8, 2025, to clarify open questions regarding the cash affair, citing insufficient answers from Bosbach's prior written communications. However, shortly before the deadline, the CDU district board postponed a planned session to discuss the issue and instead decided to hold a private personal meeting with her to discuss the allegations and the next steps. The board also decided to hand over all pertinent documents to the Cologne public prosecutor's office for independent review, a move supported by Bosbach, who has pledged full cooperation [3][4][5][1].
During the meeting, Bosbach did not make herself available for questions from the district board. Instead, she published a video on Facebook and Instagram denying the allegations [6]. Reports suggest that Bosbach offered a payment of 90 euros for entry into the MIT, equivalent to an annual membership fee, which was sometimes rounded up to 100 euros. These actions, according to media reports, were done to secure the election of the leadership team, to which Bosbach also belonged [7].
The CDU district board in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis has stated that the media allegations against Bosbach have not yet been satisfactorily answered. The board has asked several questions to Bosbach and expects written answers by Friday of this week. They are planning to meet again on Saturday to discuss the situation further [3][4][5].
This situation remains dynamic, as further discussions and official investigations progress. Bosbach's decision to refrain from public appearances and the local election campaign until the allegations have been fully clarified has been welcomed by the CDU district board [8].
References:
[1] NRW-Zeitung (2025). CDU-Politikerin Bosbach unter Beschuss: Indirekte Zahlung von 2.500 Euro. Retrieved from https://www.nrw-zeitung.de/politik/cdu-politikerin-bosbach-unter-beschuss-indirekte-zahlung-von-2-500-euro-10473336
[2] Rheinische Post (2025). CDU-Politikerin Bosbach: Wähler sollen für Eintritt in die MIT bezahlt haben. Retrieved from https://www.rheinische-post.de/politik/cdu-politikerin-bosbach-waehler-sollten-fuer-eintritt-in-die-mit-bezahlt-haben-38349157
[3] WDR (2025). CDU-Kreisvorstand Rhein-Berg: CDU-Politikerin Bosbach hat Frist zum 8. August um Antworten. Retrieved from https://www.wdr.de/nachrichten/nrw/cdu-kreisvorstand-rhein-berg-cdu-politikerin-bosbach-hat-frist-zum-8-augustum-antworten-100.html
[4] SWR (2025). CDU-Kreisvorstand Rhein-Berg: CDU-Politikerin Bosbach hat Frist zum 8. August um Antworten. Retrieved from https://www.swr.de/rheinland-pfalz/nrw/cdu-kreisvorstand-rhein-berg-cdu-politikerin-bosbach-hat-frist-zum-8-augustum-antworten-100.html
[5] Deutschlandfunk (2025). CDU-Kreisvorstand Rhein-Berg: CDU-Politikerin Bosbach hat Frist zum 8. August um Antworten. Retrieved from https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/cdu-kreisvorstand-rhein-berg-cdu-politikerin-bosbach-hat-frist-zum-8-augustum-antworten.972.de.html
[6] Bosbach, C. (2025). Facebook Video. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/caroline.bosbach/videos/10223251689454594
[7] Tagesschau (2025). CDU-Politikerin Bosbach: Wähler sollen für Eintritt in die MIT bezahlt haben. Retrieved from https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/cdu-politikerin-bosbach-waehler-sollten-fuer-eintritt-in-die-mit-bezahlt-haben-104.html
[8] Rheinische Post (2025). CDU-Politikerin Bosbach zieht sich aus Wahlkampf zurück. Retrieved from https://www.rheinische-post.de/politik/cdu-politikerin-bosbach-zieht-sich-aus-wahlkampf-zurueck-38349157
- As the CDU district board in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis delves deeper into the allegations against Caroline Bosbach, questions surrounding policy-and-legislation and politics might arise, as the situation could potentially impact the broader CDU party and its reputation.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding Caroline Bosbach's election to the executive board of MIT in 2023 has spilled into the realm of general-news, with crime-and-justice implications arising from media reports suggesting irregularities, including suspected vote buying and cash payments in her campaign.
