BERLIN, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Green Party in Germany on Tuesday called for the resignation of the country's Minister of Transport Alexander Dobrindt, following widely publicized allegations that several leading carmakers have been colluding illegally with each other for decades.
Dobrindt was a "risk factor for jobs in the automotive industry and must be relieved of his duties immediately", the deputy chair of the Green parliamentary faction Oliver Krischer told German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse.
According to Krischer, Dobrindt had enabled the "dieselgate" scandal and alleged cartel formation by looking the other way.
The Left party joined in the criticism of Dobrindt with politician Herbert Behrens saying: "The cartel of the automotive industry is obvious ... and the Minister of Transport again claims not to have had any clue."
According to a report published by newsmagazine Spiegel, leading German carmakers including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz formed an illegal cartel that has met since the 1990s to coordinate vehicle technology, cost, suppliers, markets and strategy with each other.
The European Commission has launched an investigation into the matter. Dobrindt will hold a "Diesel Summit" with industry representatives in August in which carmakers are expected to make further concession to upgrade affected vehicles.
