Politics or business?

Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle pronounced his whirlwind tour of South America a success on Saturday, despite criticism in Germany that he combined his official diplomatic trip with personal interests.

Shortly before his return to Berlin, the foreign minister said his four-country tour, which he wrapped up Friday in Brazil, was a success for "foreign policy, economic and academic relations and for cultural politics."

Westerwelle, a member of the pro-business Free Democratic Party, was heavily criticized for bringing along his partner, Michael Mronz, on his latest trip to Latin America. Critics accused Mronz of allegedly pursuing business opportunities in the sporting events industry.

A business partner of Westerwelle's brother was also part of a delegation to Asia earlier this year.

Controversy continues

Green party chairwoman Claudia Roth accused Westerwelle of favoritism. "He mixed private business interests of his family and his partner with German foreign policy," Roth told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

The criticism prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to speak out in defense of Westerwelle and his selection of business delegations, saying she was "confident that the foreign minister's selections were in full compliance with the rules," according to a statement from Berlin on Friday.

Westerwelle fights back

Westerwelle has strongly denied the allegations and said his accusers were attempting to defame him ahead of the vital state election in North Rhine-Westphalia in May.

He added that all delegations he has brought with him since becoming foreign minister late last year "fully deserved to represent Germany and its economic interests abroad."

FDP parliamentary faction leader Birgit Homburger also came out in defense of her leader, saying that Westerwelle was "as good a foreign minister as he is a party leader," and said opposition parties "should ask themselves if they still support the rules of democratic behavior."

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Editor: Ben Knight