Request for the waiver of the immunity of Hermann Winkler

The Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously adopted the report by Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG) in which it recommended the European Parliament to waive the immunity of Hermann WINKLER (EPP, DE).

Members stated that the public prosecutor’s office in Leipzig (Germany) requested the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Hermann Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, in connection with launching investigative proceedings concerning an alleged road traffic offence.

Members recalled that under Article 46(2) of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), a Member may not be called to account for a punishable offence without the permission of Parliament unless apprehended while committing the offence or in the course of the following day.

They noted that the request relates to preliminary investigations into a serious road traffic accident in which Hermann Winkler was involved and that the alleged offence clearly has no connection with the position of Hermann Winkler as a Member of the European Parliament.

In this regard, Members called on the European Parliament to waive his parliamentary immunity in the case in question.