Status: 07/07/2022 3:17 p.m
Parliament lifted the immunity of AfD MP Protschka – offices were then searched. The suspicion: He is said to have given false information when brokering an insurance contract.
The Bundestag has lifted the immunity of AfD MP Stephan Protschka. According to the Landshut public prosecutor’s office, investigators searched the politician’s offices. Protschka is agricultural policy spokesman for his parliamentary group and Bavarian AfD state chairman.
suspicion of insurance fraud
The investigations are related to Protschka’s work as an investment advisor. According to the public prosecutor, there is an initial suspicion that he provided false information in 2017 when mediating the conclusion of an insurance contract. Therefore, due to the suspicion of falsification of evidence-relevant data is determined.
However, there is no connection with his Bundestag mandate. The public prosecutor’s office did not provide any further details.
Protschka was surprised by the news agency dpa and said it was probably about the allegation of alleged insurance fraud. This accusation was “ridiculous”, the investigations “politically motivated”. He was accused of forging a signature. The investigators also searched rooms that did not belong to him.
When can MPs be investigated?
Members of the Bundestag may only be investigated for suspected criminal offenses if Parliament agrees. If the public prosecutor wants to investigate, they can apply to Parliament to lift the immunity.
In Protschka’s case, the Bundestag Committee for Election Review, Immunity and Rules of Procedure recommended lifting his immunity. According to its own statements, the Bundestag then decided unanimously.