BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-left rival in next year’s election issued a bold challenge Tuesday to her government — going well beyond legal requirements to state that he earned €1.25 million ($1.6 million) over three years giving lectures.

The move by Peer Steinbrueck, Germany’s finance minister from 2005-09, was designed to deflect any criticism of him for taking money from financial institutions for speeches and to press for more detailed earnings statements from all German lawmakers.