A member of Parliament is said to have accepted money from Azerbaijan. Now, Transparency International, calls the consequences of the corruption allegations. Now, the German Bundestag is required.
By letter, the anti-corruption organisation Transparency International Germany asked the Berlin public Prosecutor’s office, whether a request for waiver of the immunity of the Bundestag Karin Strenz (CDU). The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had requested the national authorities of the member countries, including Germany, the accusations of corruption against Strenz pursue.
Wolfgang Wodarg, member of the Board of Transparency Germany, told Deutsche Welle: “The results of the investigation report of the Council of Europe already is sufficient evidence for a suspicion of members of bribery, and thus give rise to the further prosecution of Karin Strenz.”
Karin Strenz: the victim of a damage to reputation?
Strenz himself writes at the request of the DW: “I see no occasion to make a statement regarding the Statements of Transparency International. Because the organization calls for investigation into the allegations of corruption. The report of the Commission, however, has not clearly stated that this is the case in relation to my Person.”
Numerous Gifts
In the past year had not taken-governmental organization “European stability initiative” Azerbaijani lobby’s activities in the Council of Europe under the magnifying glass. In its report, “caviar diplomacy” is the name of it, Baku bribed the PACE Rapporteur, and to ensure compliance with the commitments Azerbaijan’s accession to the Council of Europe has taken.
It was established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe a Commission of inquiry. The respondents of the PACE deputies have confirmed that the representative of Azerbaijan had attempted to vote, the Rapporteur, with many gifts – black caviar, carpets, expensive liquor, jewelry, and the services of prostitutes – loyal.
Money from Baku
Eduard Lintner, Azerbaijan-a Lobbyist in the Council of Europe
In April, submitted the investigation report lists dozens of PACE deputies, who have failed in the view of the draftsman of the code of conduct of the Assembly. Including former CSU member of the Bundestag, Eduard Lintner, which was from 1999 to 2010, PACE is a member of. He is the most important Azerbaijan is to be a Lobbyist -. According to the report, he was the one Karin Strenz involved in the lobbying for Baku. You, Lintner, and a dozen members of Parliament from other countries has in the meantime been deprived of the access to the building of the PACE in Strasbourg for life.
Strenz assured, you didn’t know that Lintners consulting company “Line M-Trade” was financed by Azerbaijan. However, the investigating authorities could also have other questions for you. For example, the raised by the SPD Bundestag member Frank Young: Why has Strenz overwritten by your founded company “Karin Strenz GbR” hurry your husband? The new owner has received money from Baku? If Yes, by whom, for what services and what amounts?
Unclear is also why Strenz, which was in November of 2015 as an election observer in Azerbaijan, as it is – had indicated that they followed in the country’s commercial interests. According to observers, Strenz had been in any election, locally seen. For that, you had an audience with President Ilham Aliyev.
Procedures set
Wolfgang Wodarg of Transparency International, which was until the beginning of 2010, self-PACE-member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the German Delegation, stressed: “It cannot be that our democracy is undermined by powerful stakeholders, and that the remains in Germany without consequences.” He says, the mere fact that Strenz have received over Lintners company’s money from Baku to investigation on suspicion of corruption.
Wolfgang Wodarg: “Sufficient Evidence”
The Berlin public Prosecutor’s office was interested in the case, however, the suspicion of corruption against the members of the Bundestag not as convincing, to initiate an investigation. This is also the withdrawal of the deputies should have immunity applied. As Martin Steltner said of the Berlin public Prosecutor’s office of the DW, had been set the procedure, without the need for formal investigations against Strenz were initiated.
What is the Bundestag.
Some of the members of the Bundestag insist, to draw consequences from the case. With the for members rules applicable to the status Commission of the Council of Elders is concerned in Parliament. The Chairperson of the Bundestag, Vice-Chairman Thomas Oppermann (SPD). His office said the DW, the case Strenz give occasion to check, whether the current rules are still appropriate. Personal Affairs of members of the Committee are not to be tested. Thus, the Council of Elders and the administration of the Bundestag concerned. As the DW learned, was there initiated a process regarding Karin Strenz, the progress but slow.
One reason, perhaps, is that Strenz behavior of the fail, for your access to the PACE-building is now denied, as a PACE member, and not as a member of Parliament has to come to debt. However, as a member of the Bundestag Strenz must report their outside income. As the DW learned in the Bundestag, have you specified the amounts but not their origin, although all knew that Lintners company is financed by Baku. Thus, Strenz – if not against the rules of financial transparency against the code of conduct for members of Parliament failed.