German President accused of Monetary Impropriety

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16 February 2012
Last updated at 22:52

Prosecutors seek to lift German president's immunity

German President accused of Monetary Impropriety _57712413_013631635-1

German President accused of Monetary Impropriety _57712413_013631635-1

Mr Wulff says he wants to serve out his five-year term

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Prosecutors
in Germany have asked the federal parliament to lift President
Christian Wulff's immunity over an escalating home loan scandal.

The prosecutors in Lower Saxony, where Mr Wulff, 52, was
previously premier, said there was an "initial suspicion" that he
improperly accepted benefits.

He has also been accused of trying to bully a paper not to run the story.

The president - whose primary role is to serve as a moral authority for the nation - denies any wrongdoing.

The widening row is seen by analysts as a blow to Chancellor
Angela Merkel, who helped Mr Wulff to secure the largely ceremonial
office in 2010.

Angry message
On Thursday, prosecutors in Hanover, capital of Lower Saxony,
said in a statement there were "enough actual indications" that the
president had acted improperly.

"Therefore they have asked asked the president of the German Bundestag (the lower house) to lift the president's immunity."

The move is formally required to start proceedings against Mr
Wulff, although this does not mean necessarily that he president will
be charged.

Mr Wulff's office has not publicly commented on the latest development.

At the centre of the row is the story - first published by
the Bild newspaper - that Mr Wulff received a low interest 500,000 euro
loan (£417,000; $649,000) from the wife of a wealthy businessman in
October 2008.

Mr Wulff was later asked in Lower Saxony's parliament if he
had had business relations with the businessman, Egon Geerkens, and said
he had not, making no mention of his dealings with Mr Geerkens's wife.

The president was also heavily criticised for trying to force Bild not to break the story in the first place.

It has emerged that he left an angry message on Bild chief
editor Kai Diekmann's phone, saying the story must not be published.

Mr Wulff has since apologised to Mr Diekmann.

He has also rejected calls for his resignation, saying he
plans to serve his five-year term with the record of a good and
successful president.