Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – The state parliament has unanimously voted for a committee of inquiry – this is to examine the issue of sexual harassment and transport practice in the police as well as the affair surrounding Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU). On Wednesday, however, the Greens and CDU rejected the title “abuse of power” proposed by the opposition. In addition, they pushed through an amendment at the end of September 2023 as the deadline for the committee. The factions of SPD and FDP had pushed for the committee of inquiry. The committee is to look not only at Strobl’s behavior in relation to a punctured lawyer’s letter, but also at police promotion practices and sexual harassment.
Deputy Prime Minister Strobl is under massive pressure because he forwarded a letter from a high-ranking police officer’s lawyer to a journalist. The official is being investigated for sexual harassment and has been suspended from work. In the letter, the lawyer for the police officer offered the top executive a personal interview with the accused officer.
Strobl saw it as a “poisoned offer”. By passing on the letter, he wanted to ensure “maximum transparency” and prevent the other side from launching the letter and being accused of cheating. The public prosecutor’s office is investigating against the journalist on suspicion of prohibited reports about court hearings and against Strobl on suspicion of inciting this.
