European Parliament Lifts Immunity of AfD Politician Petr Bystron

The decision enables prosecutors to proceed with investigations into allegations of promoting unconstitutional symbols, while Bystron denies wrongdoing and claims political bias.

The European Parliament voted to lift the immunity of AfD MEP Petr Bystron on April 1, 2025, following a request from the Munich I Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation centers on a 2022 social media post featuring a collage that allegedly depicts public figures performing the Hitler salute, which prosecutors argue promotes unconstitutional symbols.
Bystron has denied the allegations, invoking artistic freedom as a defense and claiming the investigation is politically motivated due to his role in the AfD and the EU election cycle.
The Bundestag had previously lifted Bystron's immunity in 2023 for the same case before he was elected to the European Parliament in 2024.
Separate allegations of bribery and money laundering linked to the prorussian portal 'Voice of Europe' are under investigation, but no decision on immunity for those charges has yet been made.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

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