Klaus Schwab, longtime head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), is facing serious accusations of interfering with the organization’s Global Competitiveness Report to portray Brexit as a failure. According to an internal investigation, Schwab allegedly ordered staff to prevent the UK’s ranking from improving after Brexit, fearing it would benefit pro-Brexit voices. Despite a methodology change that should have boosted the UK’s position, the final 2017 report instead showed a drop.
The claims emerged from a whistleblower, who also accused Schwab of financial misconduct, inappropriate behavior toward younger staff, and manipulation of data for political purposes.
Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung published parts of the ongoing probe, revealing that Schwab also intervened to maintain India’s high ranking in an effort to secure Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at Davos.
Critics, including British politicians like Priti Patel and Lord Frost, condemned the alleged manipulation as anti-democratic and ideologically driven. Reform UK leaders Nigel Farage and Richard Tice said the revelations confirm long-held concerns about the WEF’s globalist agenda.
The investigation, led by law firm Homburger, is also reviewing over £800,000 in expenses filed by Schwab and his wife, some of which allegedly lack a clear link to WEF activities. Schwab has denied wrongdoing and criticized the WEF board for leaking the preliminary findings. The final report is expected later this year.
The controversy further fuels concerns over elite influence in global governance, as symbolized by the so-called ‘Davos Man’—a term coined to describe a class of borderless, unaccountable elites.