During the government's term, the 2008 Liechtenstein tax affair took place, where millions of euros belonging to hundreds of citizens living in Germany were channeled into the LGT Bank and other banks in Liechtenstein,[4] taking advantage of Liechtenstein-based trusts to evade paying taxes in Germany.[5] The affair overshadowed the previously planned visit of Hasler to Berlin on February 19, 2008, to meet with the minister of finance, Peer Steinbrück, and the chancellor, Angela Merkel.[6][7] Merkel asked for help in the investigation and cooperation in prevention of tax evasion, pointing out that Liechtenstein provided the US Internal Revenue Service with some data but not the German Ministry of Finances.[8]
The newspaper Die Welt described the event as a "government crisis".[9] Alois, called the investigations an "attack" on Liechtenstein by the Federal Republic and considered pursuing legal remedies.[10] As a result of the affair, the government entered negotiations with a number of countries to discuss tax avoidance issues. It reached an agreement with the United Kingdom in 2009 that will allow the about 5,000 British customers of Liechtenstein's banks that hold for them about £2-3 billion in secret accounts to come clear with British tax authorities under terms of a significantly reduced penalty.[11] The agreement opened up Liechtenstein's banks to greater transparency, but remains controversial in Liechtenstein; some banks feared that clients would move their money elsewhere.[11]
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