Habeck under Investigation for Defamation Allegations
Investigators are examining suspected wrongdoings involving Robert Habeck.
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Robert Habeck, the former Economy Minister turned Bundestag member, is under investigation by the Dresden public prosecutor's office for suspected defamation. According to the prosecutor's office, Habeck made "factually incorrect statements" about Sahra Wagenknecht and her political party, Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), during a campaign event in 2023. Habeck's defense claims these were permissible critical expressions of opinion.
These comments were made during a speech at Habeck's party's election closing event in Dresden, held in a cinema on August 30, 2023.
Wagenknecht accused Habeck of spreading "open lies and defamation" to influence the 2024 Saxony state election. She denies Habeck's claims that the BSW receives payments for its opinion, buys votes online, and builds "troll armies."
The prosecutor's office received Wagenknecht and the BSW's complaint in November 2023, and in February 2025, they informed the President of the German Bundestag of their intention to initiate criminal proceedings against Habeck. The office has been investigating suspected defamation against a person in public life since then.
The prosecutor's office is also probing the possibility of malicious gossip if Habeck's immunity in the Bundestag is lifted. However, no decision has been made on this, and the Bundestag rejected a request to lift Habeck's immunity last week.
This investigation sheds light on the intricate legal landscape surrounding defamation and free speech in Germany, as high-profile politicians increasingly resort to legal action to respond to criticism. Despite the ongoing investigation, Habeck's political standing and existing immunity may help him avoid severe penalties.
Sources: ntv.de, uzh/dpa
- Robert Habeck
- Sahra Wagenknecht
- BSW
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- Prosecutor's Office
Enrichment Data: The investigation began on March 21, 2025, and is expected to have minimal impact on Habeck due to his parliamentary immunity. However, it underscores the ongoing debate about defamation and free speech in German politics, with prominent figures using legal measures to counter criticism more frequently.
The complexity of this case and potential legal repercussions for politicians mirrors recent discussions about the limits of freedom of speech, particularly when it comes to public figures. Meanwhile, Habeck's immunity, granted as a member of parliament, is expected to protect him against severe penalties at this stage.
- In the midst of the investigation into Robert Habeck for defamation allegations, politics in Germany is being scrutinized for its potential role in shaping free speech boundaries, as high-profile figures increasingly rely on legal measures to counter criticism.
- As the Prosecutor's Office delves into Robert Habeck's case for suspected defamation against Sahra Wagenknecht and her political party, BSW, it raises questions about the intricate balance between protection of workers (such as those within the Commission's mandate for proposals on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation) and the freedom of speech in the realm of politics and general-news, including crime-and-justice affairs.
