08 May 2008

Republican leadership contender John McCain has received financial backing from Maersk Inc. in the US.

Maersk is reported to have spent US$101,500 supporting political campaigns in this election cycle, including both Republican and Democractic Party candidates for Congress. According to Open Secrets, the website of the Center for Responsive Politics  - which describes itself as a non-partisan, non-profit US research group which tracks money in politics and its effect on elections - $5000 dollars was given in support of John McCain’s campaigning.

The Maersk fund takes the form of a Political Action Committee (PAC). These are commonly used by companies and organisations to support politicians financially in the US.

A unique position in the USA
Derek Beach, Associate Professor of the University of Aarhus in Denmark, was not surprised by the company’s involvement in the American elections. “Transnational companies in the US spend large amounts on financing political campaigns, and they expect to get something in return,” he said. “Maersk is deeply dependent on the American market. So they pay a little money to buy themselves some goodwill. ”

He emphasised that Maersk has a unique position on the American market as a foreign shipping line that is sailing freight from port to port in the US. He also mentioned that Maersk Line is a contractor for the US military.

Accused of anti-union views
Most US trade unions support the Democratic Party in the next presidential elections, and some have accused John McCain of having a long history of anti-union politics. As a senator McCain voted to allow employers to hire permanent replacements during strikes and came out against collective bargaining rights for state and local police and firefighters.

Maersk Inc. does not wish to comment on the support for the individual campaigns of John McCain and other candidates, but commented on the wider programme. Gordon Dorsey, a press officer for Maersk Inc., said:  “The Maersk Good Government Fund provides political donations to a variety of politicians who support legislation and regulations that are beneficial to global commerce, the transportation industry and Maersk employees and their families.  The scale of these contributions is small compared to the contribution levels of other companies and trade unions in  the U.S."

Maersk also supported John McCain’s congressional campaign in 2006, according to Open Secrets. During the 2000 presidential elections, the company also supported George W. Bush.

More information
www.opensecrets.org