Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – The opposition from the SPD and FDP has applied for the dismissal of Interior Minister Thomas Strobl in the state parliament. The CDU politician broke the law in the so-called letter affair, criticized the SPD parliamentary group leader on Wednesday in Stuttgart. “There is only one way to avert damage to the country: and that would be to resign immediately from the post of interior minister.” His FDP colleague Hans-Ulrich Rülke called the affair the “low point” of political culture in the country’s history. The Minister of the Interior is not suitable as a role model for the state police, of which he is the top employer. “He is a disgrace to the Baden-Württemberg police.”
The parliamentary group leaders of the Greens and the CDU, Andreas Schwarz and Manuel Hagel, rejected the dismissal request. “He is dubious and unfounded in the matter.” Schwarz called on the SPD and FDP to concentrate on the factual work in the committee of inquiry and to refrain from “perverse personal discussions and cheap polemics”. Hagel accused the opposition of “scandalizing”. The criticism is becoming “more and more shrill, more and more malicious and yes, more and more hurtful”. Hagel called on the SPD and FDP to focus on the “real problems” of people in the crisis.
SPD and FDP are outraged that Strobl should remain in office, although he wants to pay a fine of 15,000 euros for the termination of the procedure in the so-called letter affair. If Strobl does not want to resign himself, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) must fire him. “What does a minister have to do for you to dismiss him?” asked Rülke. The SPD and FDP doubt that all members of the Greens and CDU really support Strobl. The deputy prime minister had passed a letter from a lawyer to a journalist.
