Cohn-Bendit immunity will not be lifted, say MEPs

Date: 03/07/03

By Martin Banks

MEPS have rejected a request to lift Daniel Cohn-Bendit's Parliamentary immunity from prosecution, in the latest twist in the Greens' co-leader's colourful political career.

German authorities had asked for Cohn-Bendit's immunity to be waived so that he could face possible charges over his alleged links with German terrorist Hans-Joachim Klein, who was jailed for nine years in 2001 for murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.

Cohn-Bendit is accused of obstructing the course of justice by allegedly helping Klein at a time he was on the run from the French police. The two are former political comrades and it has been alleged that Cohn-Bendit, along with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, helped harbour Klein from French authorities during the 1970s and 1980s. At the time of Klein's arrest, Cohn-Bendit reportedly admitted he had known of his whereabouts and helped him with money.

However on Tuesday, MEPs meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg declined a request from the chief prosecutor's office in Frankfurt to lift Cohn-Bendit's immunity from prosecution. The Parliament's legal affairs committee had earlier come to the same decision.

German centre-right deputy Klaus-Heiner Lehne said there could be no question of the Parliament lifting the immunity. He questioned why the German authorities appeared so keen to prosecute Cohn-Bendit now in a case which dates back to the 1970s. French Socialist François Zimeray went even further, accusing Germany of "politically persecuting" Cohn-Bendit.