Immunity Committee will hear minister - court hearing

The immunity committee of the Saxon state parliament will hear Culture Minister Conrad Clemens (CDU) in connection with allegations of a traffic violation. This can be done in writing or orally, probably at the next committee meeting in April, as the state parliament announced. A recommendation for a resolution will then be submitted to parliament as to whether the requested waiver of immunity should be approved.

Politician driving at 80 km/h in a 30 km/h zone

The background to this is a case at Weißwasser district court. Clemens (42) was banned from driving for two months and fined because he was caught driving at 80 km/h in a 30 km/h zone in Krauschwitz (district of Görlitz). "Yes, I made a mistake," he told Radio Lausitz. He also admitted to driving too fast when asked by dpa. The incident dates back to 2023, when he was not yet Minister of Culture, but State Secretary and Plenipotentiary of the Free State of Saxony to the Federal Government.

Court does not rule out illegal motor vehicle racing

Clemens had lodged an objection, so the case was initially to be heard as an administrative offence at Weißwasser District Court. However, he withdrew the application and registered for a driving fitness seminar. According to the court, it later gave Clemens and his defense lawyer a legal notice stating that the traffic violation could also be considered a prohibited motor vehicle race. This would then result in criminal proceedings.

Court hearing scheduled for Monday

The Weißwasser district court is now assuming that the court hearing will take place next Monday (9.30 am) independently of the hearing of the immunity committee. Clemens has been summoned in person, it said. It is possible that a different solution can be found between the defense attorney, the court and the public prosecutor. "It also makes sense to hold this hearing for this purpose," said court spokesman Christoph Pietryka.

Pietryka ruled out a prior conviction of Clemens. "I would also like to emphasize that it may turn out in the course of the proceedings that the original accusation of a traffic offence remains."