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CDU politician Axel Fischer
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
The Bundestag has already lifted the immunity of CDU MP Axel Fischer for investigative purposes, now the next step follows: Fischer is to give up the chairmanship of the audit committee because of his connections to the authoritarian Azerbaijan.
SPIEGEL learned that this should happen “promptly”.
First of all, the SWR and the "Badische Neuesten Nachrichten" reported on the process.
The Karlsruhe MP is suspected of having made positive comments about Azerbaijan in return for monetary payments.
Fischer himself described the allegations as baseless.
In the coming week of the session there is to be a request from the Union group in the audit committee to transfer the chairmanship of the committee to other hands.
SPIEGEL learned this from the leadership of the parliamentary group.
As before, the presumption of innocence applies, according to the parliamentary group.
But because the importance of the committee is not insignificant, the step is considered appropriate.
The SPD parliamentary group deputy leader Katja Mast had already called for Fischer to be removed from the committee last weekend.
"Much more important than posts," she said, was "a real clarification of who is still involved in the Azerbaijan connection," she said.
Everything must "come to light."
The authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan had tried to polish up its image and in the process repeatedly sought proximity to German politicians.
It's about a lobby network that the former CSU State Secretary Eduard Lintner is said to have established.
The CDU MP Karin Strenz is said to have campaigned conspicuously for the concerns of the dictator Ilham Aliyev.
Last year, in connection with lobbying activities, Lintner's and Strenz's rooms were examined by the police.
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as / flo / AFP
