Schleswig-Holstein’s former Prime Minister Torsten Albig (SPD) has switched to the tobacco company Philip Morris as a lobbyist. The 60-year-old will head the External Affairs division of the cigarette manufacturer’s German subsidiary, the company said. “I want to support the company in its transformation from a tobacco manufacturer to a supplier of low-emission products,” said the ex-politician. He was referring to the Iqos tobacco heater, which Philip Morris is heavily promoting, but whose market share is still small.
If adult smokers switched to such products, this would have the potential to reduce health risks, says Albig. “The best thing is of course to stop smoking.” The social democrat claims to be a non-smoker. “I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life.” His mother and grandparents, on the other hand, were heavy smokers, which is why all three had serious health problems.
The exit from the cigarette business is dragging on
Albig calls for a different approach to dealing with smoking and more information campaigns from federal politics. In Italy and Japan, low-emission products have a significantly higher market share than in Germany. He also refers to Sweden, where only a few people smoke. The tobacco product snus is widespread there. This is not smoked, but pushed under the upper lip. The snus manufacturer Swedish Match belongs to Philip Morris, but the product cannot be sold in Germany.
Tobacco heaters, on the other hand, are available in this country, and Philip Morris’ competitor British American Tobacco is also involved with the glo brand. However, the products are controversial: on the one hand, there are voices who see them as the lesser evil. In contrast to cigarettes, tobacco is not burned but “only” heated. On the other hand, the German Cancer Research Center, for example, warns against playing it down: Tobacco heaters are also bad for your health. In the absence of long-term studies, the exact consequences are still unclear.
According to its own statements, Philip Morris wants to get out of the classic cigarette business in the long term and is therefore focusing on Iqos, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches worldwide. However, the majority of sales still come from selling brands like Marlboro and L&M.
Albig speaks of a “significant company”
The personnel Albig should be discussed controversially. When asked if he wasn’t doing his party a disservice by moving into the controversial tobacco industry, Albig said Philip Morris is “a significant company” with an important goal, which is to sell significantly more low-pollution products than before. “Regardless of me, it’s always good for my party when its members find acceptance in business and take on leading roles there.”
Born in Bremen, he was Mayor of Kiel from 2009 to 2012 and then Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein until 2017. After losing a state election, he retired from active politics and went to Brussels for four years, where he became head of the Deutsche Post DHL representative office. In 2021 he moved to the Federal Association of German Postal Service Providers for a good year.