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Health Minister Jens Spahn
Photo: TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
Hatred and insults in the dispute about how to properly deal with the corona pandemic have consequences.
This is now being felt by an opponent of the corona measures who had homophobically insulted Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
The Cologne public prosecutor's office had requested a penalty order for 70 daily rates of 40 euros each against the man - a total of a fine of 2800 euros.
A spokeswoman for the Bergisch Gladbach district court said the man had not filed an objection to the penalty order from the Cologne public prosecutor's office.
This completes the procedure and does not come to trial.
“Discussing with one another, that's democracy.
It is not yelling and insulting. "
Health Minister Jens Spahn
At the end of August, Spahn was attacked and whistled by demonstrators on the sidelines of an election campaign in Bergisch Gladbach.
The minister had sought a conversation with the demonstrators, who apparently did not agree with the federal government's corona policy.
Angry shouts and whistles
A video shows how Spahn tries to talk to the angry protesters.
Whistles and angry shouts can be heard while Spahn gesticulates with his hands to make it clear that he would like to speak.
When that doesn't work, he gets into a waiting car that drives away.
While Spahn turns away from the crowd, homophobic insults and "shame" shouts can be heard, including from a 39-year-old man.
Police heard this and filed a complaint.
Spahn also filed a criminal complaint because of the incident.
After the incident, he wrote on Twitter: “Discussing with one another, that's democracy.
It is not yelling and insulting. "
The federal government and the CDU leadership condemned the verbal abuse and showed solidarity with Spahn.
CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer condemned the hostility at that time on Twitter.
They have "nothing to do" with decency and a culture of debate.
In the party presidium, the CDU leader Spahn had also expressed her solidarity, as SPIEGEL learned from circles of participants.
She told the cabinet colleague that such incidents were completely unacceptable.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert also spoke of "bad behavior".
Anyone who insults politicians and even spits on them wants a "brutal form of protest" that goes nowhere, said Seibert.
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mrc / dpa