Police forces are increasingly investigating individuals accused of insulting, defaming, or falsely accusing politicians. According to the latest police crime statistics published by the states, which were reported by “Der Welt” there were 4,792 recorded offenses under Section 188 of the Criminal Code in 2025. This figure represents an increase from 4,439 offenses recorded in 2024, and from 2,598 reported cases in 2023.
It is noted that these statistics cover offenses investigated by the police and do not reflect subsequent convictions; however, they do offer insight into crime trends. The federal government is scheduled to publish the comprehensive police crime statistics, which consolidate data from all the states, on Monday.
Lena Gumnior, a criminal law expert from the Green Party parliamentary group, corrected a common misconception, stating to “Der Welt” that Section 188 of the Criminal Code does not forbid all criticism of politicians. She added that the argument is frequently used by right-wing extremist elements within the AfD to undermine confidence in democracy using populist rhetoric.
Gumnior suggested that it would be possible to discuss restricting the norm to municipal and volunteer officeholders, who are increasingly facing threats and infringements. According to her, these individuals rarely receive comprehensive support or experienced contacts in such situations, whereas professional politicians have alternative means of protection.