Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Dresden Prosecutors Drop Habeck Defamation Case After €12,000 Charity Payment

Prosecutors cited constitutional limits on criminalizing political speech in closing the case after a court‑approved payment to charities.

Overview

  • The investigation was discontinued with the consent of the Landgericht Dresden under a money‑order arrangement that does not constitute a conviction or admission of guilt.
  • The prosecutor’s office pointed to Bundesverfassungsgericht case law that sets a high bar for criminal liability in speech cases, particularly in political debate.
  • Habeck fulfilled a €12,000 payment to three charities, with media reporting the recipients as arche noVa, Verein für soziale Rechtspflege Dresden and Sonnenstrahl e. V.
  • The probe stemmed from an October 2024 complaint by the BSW and Sahra Wagenknecht over remarks during an August 2024 campaign appearance in Dresden.
  • Prosecutors notified the Bundestag president in February to address procedural immunity, and authorities state the closure is final and the presumption of innocence remains in force.