State parliament decides on waiver of Clemens' immunity

The Saxon state parliament is to decide on May 21 whether to waive the immunity of Culture Minister Conrad Clemens (CDU). The background to this is a case at the district court in Weißwasser concerning a traffic offense. A debate on the case is not planned in parliament, as the state parliament announced. Approval is considered certain. In principle, immunity is to be waived in the case of traffic violations.

The parliamentary committee for rules of procedure and immunity matters had already recommended this. As a member of parliament lodged an objection to the recommended resolution within the deadline, the plenary will now have to decide on it at the next ordinary session. Without the objection, the recommended resolution would have been sufficient.

Clemens was caught speeding at 81 km/h in a 30 km/h zone

Clemens received a two-month driving ban and fine in 2023 during his previous position as State Secretary and Representative of the Free State of Saxony to the Federal Government. He had been flashed at 81 kilometers per hour in a 30-kilometer zone in Krauschwitz in eastern Saxony - at a retirement home. Clemens admitted that he had been speeding and described it as a mistake.

At a hearing, judge Alex Theile recently proposed that the case be dropped in exchange for a fine of 10,000 euros. In addition, Clemens was to attend a traffic rehabilitation seminar and give at least 20 hours of traffic lessons at schools. However, neither the public prosecutor's office nor the defense agreed to the proposal.

If the immunity is lifted, the way is clear for criminal proceedings. Originally, the case was about misdemeanor proceedings. The court gave Clemens and his defense attorney a legal indication that the traffic violation could also be considered a prohibited motor vehicle race. Criminal proceedings are therefore now underway.