Request for waiver of the immunity of Hans-Peter Martin

The European Parliament adopted a resolution waiving the parliamentary immunity of the Austrian Member, Hans-Peter MARTIN (NI, AT). The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Diana WALLIS (ALDE, UK) on behalf of the Legal Affairs Committee.

On 12 October 2007, the President of Parliament forwarded to the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee a letter from the Austrian Permanent Representative enclosing a request from the Vienna Regional Criminal Court for the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Mr Hans-Peter Martin.

With regard to the facts, it is recalled that a private prosecution has been brought against Mr Hans-Peter Martin in the Vienna Regional Criminal Court on 6 June 2007 by Merkur Treuhand Wirtschaftstreuhand- und Steuerberatungs Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung for commercial defamation pursuant to Section 152 of the Austrian Criminal Code.