A German politician, Robert Habeck, a former economics minister, is now facing an investigation by the state prosecutor’s office in Dresden, initiated due to a suspected defamation case. The office announced the start of the investigation on Tuesday.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed by the German Trade Association (BSW) and Sahra Wagenknecht on November 13, 2024 and October 30, 2024, respectively, regarding statements made by Robert Habeck on August 30, 2024, at the Dresden Round Cinema during a Green party event in the run-up to the Saxon state parliament election.
According to the complaint, Habeck made “factually incorrect statements” about the BSW and Wagenknecht during his speech. The defense maintains that the statements were a legally permissible expression of opinion and criticism.
The state prosecutor’s office in Dresden informed the President of the German Bundestag in early February of its intention to initiate a criminal proceeding and, if necessary, to request the lifting of Habeck’s immunity. The investigation was officially launched on March 21. The outcome of the Bundestag’s decision on the lifting of Habeck’s immunity, due to the suspected defamation, has not yet been made public and the investigation is ongoing.