After the Bern public prosecutor’s office submitted a request to lift his immunity, the Aargau SVP National Councilor Andreas Glarner speaks out. The focus is on a tweet critical of Islam that is related to knife attacks in Germany.
The Bern public prosecutor’s office is calling for the immunity of SVP National Councilor Andreas Glarner to be lifted. The reason: a tweet critical of Islam that Glarner published after the knife attacks in Mannheim and Solingen.
Andreas Glarner comments on the lawsuit against him.Bild: keystone
One person reported Glarner anonymously. The Bern public prosecutor’s office then began the investigation. In this case, the National Council’s Immunity Commission could decide whether Glarner can be prosecuted.
“Attack on freedom of expression”
Glarner has now commented publicly on the possible procedure for the first time. He sees himself as a victim of an attack on freedom of expression, as he told Tele M1:
“That people are always trying to silence you. That people are trying to restrict freedom of speech in this country. I believe freedom of expression is one of the greatest assets we have. If we start limiting them like that, then soon no one will dare to say anything anymore.”
The public prosecutor’s office argues that Glarner may not have acted as a parliamentarian, but as a private person. This could justify lifting his immunity. A legal expert explains:
“If the statement was made as a private person, then no immunity applies and the proceedings can continue.”
Public prosecutor: Glarner acted as a private person
Glarner described the procedure as excessive: “It is probably an underemployed public prosecutor who accepts an anonymous report for a completely harmless tweet.”
The Immunity Commission wants to comment in the next ten days.
(argoviatoday.ch)
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