Opposition accuses Kretschmann of subterfuges in the Strobl affair

Created: 05/25/2022Updated: 05/25/2022 15:57

Winfried Kretschmann (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg.

© Bernd Weißbrod/dpa/archive image

Three weeks ago, the affair involving a high-ranking police officer turned into a Strobl affair - because the minister stuck through a letter from a lawyer to a journalist.

This is anything but pleasant for Kretschmann.

He now prefers to remain silent.

Stuttgart – The opposition has accused Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann of playing hide-and-seek in the affair surrounding Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU).

SPD and FDP called it "disturbing" that the Greens politician persistently refused to comment on the report of the country's top data protection officer.

The data protection officer, Stefan Brink, had previously stated that Strobl had broken the law by passing on a letter from the lawyer of a high-ranking police officer.

Kretschmann explained on Wednesday that he could not comment on this for formal reasons.

SPD faction leader Andreas Stoch, who had requested Brink's report, told the dpa that this was a "cheap defense strategy" by Kretschmann.

A spokeswoman for the State Ministry said that the statement by the state data protection officer covered the same facts as the regulatory procedure that was not completed by his authority.

Therefore, "against the background of the ongoing criminal investigations, it remains the case that the Prime Minister will not comment on the matter".

On Tuesday afternoon, Kretschmann had stated that he did not have the letter, although Stoch had already forwarded it to the state ministry on Monday evening.

In addition, the head of government was irritated on Tuesday by the actions of the data protection officer.

He is surprised that Brink did not listen to the minister.

Brink and the SPD parliamentary group disagreed.

The data protection officer told the “Badisches Tagblatt” that he had submitted the statement “as part of our duty to advise the state parliament”, since the state has no right to be heard.

However, he had opened a supervisory procedure, and of course all those affected would be heard.

However, this will only be continued once the public prosecutor's investigations against Strobl have been completed.

Stoch told the dpa: "Of course, a prime minister can and must give an opinion on this." The government apparently means "you just have to pull the blanket over your head and hope that the storm will pass".

Kretschmann's arguments are nothing but "evasions".

FDP parliamentary group leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke accused the prime minister of looking for excuses.

First of all, the report was allegedly not available.

“Today he invents a new reason to be able to cover his buddy.

He made it so that the scandal reached the State Ministry.” It's about the reputation of the state government.

The opposition is planning an investigative committee against Strobl, which may be decided next Wednesday in the state parliament.

The minister is under massive pressure because of the affair.

The public prosecutor's office is investigating the 62-year-old minister and deputy prime minister of the green-black coalition, among other things, on suspicion of prohibited disclosure of court hearings.

The reporter is suspected of having quoted official documents from the ongoing proceedings against the police officer.

Strobl, in turn, is said to have instigated him to do so.

The data protection report put the minister in trouble on another flank.

At the heart of the affair are actually investigations into a leading police officer on suspicion of sexual harassment.

The man is said to have harassed a chief inspector in a video chat.

The police officer's lawyer, who is suspended from duty, sent a letter to the ministry just before Christmas.

In it he also offered the head of the house a personal interview with the accused official.

Strobl launched the letter to the press.

After the ministry had kept quiet for months from whom the journalist got the letter, Strobl admitted three weeks ago that he had stuck it through.

The minister argues that he did not reveal any official secrets.

In his own words, he saw the letter as a “poisoned offer”.

He wanted to ensure “maximum transparency” and prevent the other side from writing and being accused of cheating.

dpa