Causa Wulff

As Wulff affair an affair of the former German President Christian Wulff is called; they began in December 2011 and led to the resignation in February 2012 Wulff.

It first went to the accusation that Wulff had in the Lower Saxon Landtag deputies request that was related to the financing of his own home, incorrect answers (so-called affair credit ). Then Wulff has been accused of having tried to prevent reporting it (so-called media affair ). As a result, new allegations have been made because of past behaviors of Wulff's tenure as prime minister again. The Hanover public prosecutor has finally taken partly because of a holiday trip to Sylt, the David Groenewold to have paid an investigation on suspicion of receiving bribes and requested the waiver of immunity Wulff as president. Wulff stepped back then.

After 13 months of investigation with a total of 21 suspected cases of Hanover public prosecutor she rose in March 2013 to charges of bribery over 400 € and asked that a penal € 20,000 against Wulff. In the remaining 20 suspected cases no violations Wulff could be determined. Beginning of April 2013 Wulff refused the offer of the prosecutor to dismiss the case against him for money pad, from. Subsequently, the prosecutor brought on April 12, 2013 indictment for bribery and corruption at the Hanover Regional Court against Wulff and Groenewold. The court had on 27 August 2013 at the accusation, but reduced the charge to benefit granting and receiving bribes. On February 27, 2014 Wulff and Groenewold were acquitted, but Groenewold cautioned for a false affidavit. The court also stated Wulff was " for the injuries searches " to compensation. The prosecution on March 5, 2014 a revision against the judgment.

Overview

End of 2011, allegations have been made in the press, Wulff had answered a question in the Lower Saxony state parliament in 2010 wrong. In the question it came to business relationship with the trader Egon Geerkens. Wulff had stated noted that there are no business relationships. The tabloid has determined that Wulff had received a loan of EUR 500,000 from the wife of the contractor for the purchase of a house in Großburgwedel in 2008. Geerkens has subsequently informed the mirror, he had led the negotiations on the loan and had been involved in its processing.

The behavior is viewed partly as a violation of the Lower Saxony Minister of Law. The loan was closed on especially favorable terms. Wulff had Geerkens taken as 'consideration' as the representative of the Lower Saxon economy on trips abroad. Wulff himself thinks of the "private" loan is interest at market rates and have exhibited no official reference.

Wulff tried by its own account, to delay the reporting by a call to the newspaper and the threat of a lawsuit. On the part of the tabloid the call was seen as an attempt to prevent the reporting entirely.

The reports of these events triggered a series of further research. So it was criticized that Wulff had repeatedly accepted holiday invitations of managers and entrepreneurs; Wulff said that the friendship from his perspective invitations would have had no relation to his administration. Another accusation concerned the financing of a private business meeting ( "North- South Dialogue "); the government Wulff response to a request therefor of the Diet was incorrect. The organizer of this meeting, Manfred Schmidt, had also financed Wulff's celebration after his election to the presidency. Finally, it was announced that Geerkens was client of the law firm, was at the Wulff to 2011, first as a staff attorney and most recently as a freelancer, working. This relationship is viewed partly as a "business relationship " within the meaning of the request of the Diet from 2010. Wulff points out that he had never personally advise Geerkens.

The allegations covered in the press, politics and (legal) science numerous calls for his resignation after themselves. In the population since the mid- January 2012, pleaded a majority for a resignation. Prosecutors Berlin and Hanover as well as the Attorney General's Office Stuttgart examined whether a reasonable suspicion exists because of receiving bribes in office.

On February 17, 2012 after 597 days in office, he entered as a result of a request for waiver of immunity in the course of planned investigations of Hanover public prosecutor on suspicion of receiving bribes from the office of president back.

Background: Rumors about the home financing and the action on land registry insight of the Spiegel magazine

Because of long-standing rumors that Wulff had received the money for his house by Carsten Maschmeyer, The mirror had fought for the right of access to the land register of his property before the Federal Court on August 17, 2011. Since only registered owner of a mortgage in the land register, so no lender was recognizable, demanded the tabloid image of Wulff information on the financing. Wulff announced, at first, to have a loan agreement with the BW - Bank closed. This was only concluded after a request in Parliament about business relations with Egon Geerkens in February 2010. Upon further inquiry Wulff admitted having previously completed a loan agreement with Edith Geerkens and to have this credit later replaced by the credit of the BW - Bank.

Accusation of false information in the Diet about business relations with Egon Geerkens

" Loan affair '

The controversial loan from Edith Geerkens

On December 13, 2011 reported image that the couple Wulff had received a private loan of 500,000 euros on 25 October 2008 by the fellow entrepreneurs wife Edith Geerkens. The interest rate on the loan was four percent. The loan amount was paid by a certificate issued by Egon Geerkens and covered by the current account of his wife Federal Bank Check. The loan was intended to finance a private house.

Wulff had this fact is not specified as part of a survey in the Lower Saxony state parliament on 10 February 2010. On 18 February 2010 Wulff replied to the question

As follows:

Press reports questioned whether the money actually comes from Edith Geerkens. The plausibility of this statement Wulff is provided for several reasons are: Firstly, Egon Geerkens has the mirror in 2011 said that he had conducted the negotiations on the loan; only the disbursement of the loan was made through an account of his wife, but that he had a power of attorney. Literally, he said regarding the anonymous checks. "I did not want any bank trainee sees that so much money goes from me to Wulff " Geerkens also said the friendship relationship existed primarily between him and Wulff, not between Wulff and his woman. Even if the money actually comes from Edith Geerkens is, according to legal scholar Alexander sound to see in the facts at least a credit contract that evidences a business relationship in the form of a guarantee by Egon Geerkens against Wulff.

On the other hand it is reported Edith Geerkens have themselves borrowed in 2008 by her husband one million euros for a home purchase in Florida. Wulff, however, said in the television interview in early January, Edith Geerkens 've been looking for an investment opportunity for its time unused capacity and therefore granted him the loan.

Part is asked further as to whether there ever was a loan or not an underlying donation should be covered up.

In the opinion of constitutional lawyers such as Hans Herbert von Arnim, a professor at the University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Wulff violated the Lower Saxony Minister Act, which prohibits the acceptance of rewards and gifts, including subsidized loans are with regard to the Office. Von Arnim the official reference considers the fact that Geerkens repeatedly took part in the period of the grant and disbursement of the loan in missions abroad Wulff. While they were on their own account; nevertheless be as such to see a "value added" in the driving. In addition, was already objectively no reason for participating Geerkens been recognized since that was already retired and therefore not a member of a trade delegation of the acquisition of orders for Lower Saxony entrepreneurs have been able to serve. Von Arnim this view underpinned with an appraisal for the February issue of the journal New Journal of Administrative Law, which was published in advance on 14 January 2012. An online article of the NDR also refers to the "ban the acceptance of rewards and gifts ", which sees a " benefit " in "special perks in private transactions ( eg interest-free or low-interest loans, vouchers, discounts ) ." According to the Cologne-based financial law expert Uwe Diekmann Wulff has given by the loan of Geerkens compared to a normal borrowing without collateral to the then usual eight to ten percent of an advantage of around 20,000 euros per year. According to the financial test editor in chief Hermann -Josef Tenhagen was in the year 2008, the minimum interest rate for a loan to mortgage lending 4.6 percent, where it had been entirely uncommon at the time, such a forgiving 120 percent of the construction costs.

Wulff's former spokesman Olaf Glaeseker rejected a suspicion of deception, claiming that the request of the state parliament Stefan Wenzel and Ursula Helmhold during the flight ticket affair had been " answered correctly "; there was no business relationships with the company. Wulff regretted that by his statements about the personal loan a false impression may have been created and announced to make " transparency " and to store relevant documents to the private loan at a lawyer's office. The Elders of the Lower Saxony state parliament should consult 20 December 2011 on whether Wulff has failed with the acceptance of credit from third parties and for the financing of holidays by third parties against § 5 § 4 of the Lower Saxony Minister of Law, which states that " members of the government [ ... ], accept, even after their official relationship, no rewards and gifts in relation to their office " may. The meeting was, however, ended without a conclusion immediately after the start and without any discussion of the matter at the request of the CDU and FDP with a reference to appropriate parliamentary instruments. On December 22, 2011 gave birth to Lothar Hagebölling, the head of the Federal President, Olaf Glaeseker of his official duties as Speaker of the Federal President. Glaeseker had reportedly asked himself for his dismissal.

The BW-Bank Credit

Shortly after his answer in the Lower Saxony state parliament sparked Wulff the credit of the Geerkens by a loan from the Baden- Württemberg Bank (BW Bank). Contact with the BW - Bank had prepared for Christian Wulff Egon Geerkens. A first contract with the BW Bank signed Wulff on March 18, 2010. On 21 March 2010, he signed a short-term and tumbling money market loans at an interest rate from 0.9 to 2.1 percent, with whom he replaced the given Geerkens of private credit. The money market loan was replaced by a long -term mortgage of BW Bank. Günther Oettinger, the then Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, contradicted rumors that he had helped Wulff to the low-interest loan from the state-owned BW Bank. Wulff refused at first, indemnify BW Bank for information on details of credit from banking secrecy. Experts from the Institute of Financial Services calculated an advantage in the amount of 107,800 euros compared to customary conditions for the loan of the BW Bank over the entire term of 14.5 years. According to information from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung were from the investments in the amount 850000-900000 euro, which had made ​​to the house for the security of the then Prime Minister, the State of Lower Saxony, against 250,000 euros in the valuation of the property for the BW-Bank credit.

Before Christmas 2011 Wulff had to explain that he had the money market loans replaced by a regular real estate loans. On December 27, 2011 Wulff environment confirmed that the new loan terms will apply from 2012. According to his statement by mid-December he took in December 2009 "Conversations with a private client advisor " to the bank. On 10 December 2009, the controversial North-South dialogue took place, a party of Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg politics, economics and show business representatives, in which Wulff and his Stuttgart colleague Günther Oettinger had a prominent position. Oettinger at the time was also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LBBW. The Financial Times Germany said that Wulff had not avoided with the adoption of favorable loan any appearance of a conflict of interest; he had as a coordinator for the reform of the country's banks in 2007 certainly also had contacts with the Board of Managing Directors. Therefore, is probably questionable whether he had the bank actually selected on the recommendation of Egon Geerkens.

Business ties of Wulff's work as a lawyer

On January 30, 2012 it was announced that - " given last ten years a business relationship with Egon Geerkens " contrary to a statement from Wulff on 28 February 2010 against the Lower Saxony state parliament that it had in the - Geerkens longtime client and until 2007 also landlord the law office of the law firm of Dr. Funk, Prof. Dr. Tenfelde and partner was. In this Wulff was more than 15 years, most came for her on as an outside passenger, and worked until 2011 as a freelancer.

The constitutional lawyer Jörg -Detlef Kühne saw it as an (additional ) violation of the Saxon constitution.

Wulff's lawyer stated that Wulff had made since 1994 no income at the firm. In addition, he had been a partner of the firm, so that he was not included in the lease. Kuehne noted that Wulff for his performance in the letterhead but exemplary as a partner of the firm. A quoted by tagesschau.de managing a large law firm described it over tagesschau.de as "absolutely live far away " that a politician his name and contacts would have provided to a company for no consideration available, but are "lavish fees " usual.

" Media affair " accusation of unconstitutional attempt to influence the press

Beginning of January 2012 Christian Wulff came under criticism again. The Sunday edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on 1 January 2012 ( followed by the Süddeutsche Zeitung on the following Monday ) that Wulff on December 12, 2011 - one day before the announcement of the credit affair - have tried to Kai Diekmann, chief editor of the tabloid image, and Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer Verlag, phone and under the threat of lawsuits to prevent the reporting.

It was preceded by questions of the image to the credit agreement with Edith Geerkens, the Wulff had submitted the image to eliminate rumors about the funding of his house. According to Michael Naumann he had then also at Friede Springer attempts by phone to intervene against the image report.

There is no consensus whether Wulff with his call violated the Basic Law: The former judge at the Federal Constitutional Court Dieter Grimm assessed the call differentiated, however, believes that Wulff " do not violate the Basic Law " had; In contrast, the rector of the University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer, Joachim Wieland is based on a violation of press freedom.

The German Journalists Association ( DJV ) received harsh criticism against any attempts of prominent personalities to try to exert influence on the critical reporting of media. The former editor in chief of the mirror and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Hans Werner Kilz, it evaluated as "the most normal thing in the world that when a chief editor of the telephone rings and a politician is on the line, the something does not fit ," called Wulff's actions but at the same time " a so foolish approach like (I do ... ) ever experienced in any leaders " have. The media ethicist Alexander Filipović criticized the media understanding Wulff because he " does not understand the media as a critical public with an important task, but as a stage on which you can well and look bad ." However, " hidden entertainment journalism, the political dimensions and is not his political responsibilities ." Later it was announced that Wulff had tried in the newspaper world the summer of 2011 on Sunday to prevent a report on the relationship with his half-sister.

In a double interview by ARD and ZDF with Ulrich Depp village and Bettina Schausten 4 January 2012 Wulff admitted mistakes. He asked for understanding of his call to the image editor in chief Diekmann and saying, among other things, that he had not tried to prevent an article relating to his private credit, but had merely asked to move a day publication. He stated family reasons. This statement was, however, on the same evening, contradicted by Nikolaus Blome, deputy chief editor of the picture: " It was a call that clearly had the goal to prevent this reporting. "

As part of the coverage of Wulff's handling of the media, the magazine Cicero published an article about Wullfs behavior in the so-called " Familienfilz affair" of 1995, the then Minister of the Environment Monika Griefahn. Thus, Wulff said to have received from the Bild newspaper pointing out that Griefahn to have her husband favors in connection with the Expo 2000. In the period following media reported the allegations. However, the ARD reporter Ekkehard Sieker found inconsistencies in the incriminating documents, which was later found by the investigation committee set up, and sat Wulff thereof. The following day, Wulff spoke before the Lower Saxony state parliament "They [meaning Monika Griefahn ] have abused your office blatantly. [ ... ] If you had one last bit of political decency, then you would have at least shown insight, then you would have apologized and made ​​available to your office. "That's why Wulff is in the article criticized for it " [s ] ven with the truth [ ... ] not be taken as accurate [ to have ] if it was to eliminate a political opponent. "

Holiday invitations accepted

Under the loan affair Christian Wulff presented in December 2011 at his lawyer a list of six adopted holiday invitations between 2003 and 2010 on, before his election to the presidency. Six times he spent after a free holiday in the following private rooms: Three times he accepted the invitation of Edith and Egon Geerkens, twice to Spain, once the year 2009/2010 to New York, once the Talanx Board Wolf -Dieter Baumgartl to Italy twice the couple Angela Solaro and Volker Meyer -Meyer to Norderney. Whether it was in each case to check out the friends in their apartments, remained open. Explains is only generally that the holidays were "predominantly together with the respective long-time friends " spent. It also emphasizes the invitations would have had no relation to Wulff's public offices and therefore are consistent with the minister of Lower Saxony law. Therefore a complaint with the state government and a dispensation to accept a financial advantage was not necessary.

For the criminal lawyer Klaus Bern man is in these cases to "Classic of advantage-taking "; He complains that " unusual restraint" of the prosecution.

As President Wulff hired only shortly after he took office in 2010 an apartment in the holiday resort of the businessman Carsten Maschmeyer in Mallorca.

Ad campaign for "Better the truth "

In December 2011 it was announced that Carsten Maschmeyer during the Lower Saxony election campaign in the fall of 2007, the ad campaign for Hugo Müller- Voggs and Christian Wulff's interview book " Better the truth " was funded with EUR 42731.71 from his private fortune. The book, in which Wulff describes the private and political life, was, according to research by image also for election purposes. Christian Wulff said he had known nothing about the background of the financing of the ad campaign, which was confirmed by a spokesman Masch Meyers. Half the rest was bought by party or business associates.

Activities as Supervisory Board of Volkswagen

According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on January 6, 2012 calling for " nearly 70 banks, insurers and fund " ( shareholders of Volkswagen AG) of Wulff " damages totaling 1.8 billion euros "; in connection with the failed takeover of Volkswagen by Porsche Wulff " failures " and blamed " misinformation of the capital market ." An early February 2012, which has become known memorandum of the Hanoverian State Chancellery to substantiate this allegation.

Financing of the "North- South Dialogue "

On January 20, 2012 reported the Hannover Allgemeine Zeitung, the Lower Saxony state government under the then Prime Minister Wulff had 2010 Parliament lied when she said that there had been for the so-called North -South dialogue " no involvement or funding from the Land". The North- South dialogue was a private, for-profit event the entrepreneur Manfred Schmidt in the years 2007 to 2009, which should promote cooperation in Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg companies and took over the patronage for the Christian Wulff and Günther Oettinger. Contrary to what the government's Ministry of Agriculture has funded books that were given at the event visitors.

In addition, the event was supported by service forces the Hannover Medical School. MHH walked out of a meeting of the State Chancellery and was asked by the then Secretary of State and spokesman Christian Wulff, Olaf Glaeseker to provide a bill. The MH Hannover created only after the discovery of the affair on 20 January 2012, a bill for € 5,245 plus organizational and clothing allowance plus VAT at the expense of the company of organizer Manfred Schmidt.

It is unclear whether Wulff of the participation of the country had knowledge and thus has answered the question deliberately wrong. Another at that time the government member, who is also currently acting in Lower Saxony Finance Minister Hartmut Möllring stated to have had no knowledge of the financing; he sees himself deceived by Olaf Glaeseker. Möllring shared but after an internal review, Wulff had approved the response to the request itself and helped to shape the final text with handwritten enhancements.

Early February 2012, it was announced that at least the former head of the Lower Saxony State Chancellery Lothar Hagebölling was aware that the speaker Wulff, Olaf Glaeseker, it was brought before official intensively with the support of Manfred Schmidt. The SPD deputy Karl Lauterbach therefore sees the statement Wulff to be a lie and called for the resignation of Wulff.

The leader of the Greens in the Lower Saxony state, Stefan Wenzel has, contrary of what was hesitant attitude demanded the resignation of Wulff after becoming aware of these allegations and called him a " liar ". Due to several complaints of vilification of the Federal President ( § 90 StGB) examined the Hanover public prosecutor decides whether a punishable behavior was present and came to the conclusion that it was in this case a legitimate expression.

Wulff said to have also contrary to earlier information personally sponsors for dialogue, including the then German - Bahn CEO Hartmut Mehdorn recruited.

Charges of receiving bribes for funding the celebration after the election of the Federal President

The organizer of the North -South dialogue has for President at his request hosted a celebration after Wulff's election and funded, the guest list was discussed with Wulff; There were present, among other sponsors of the North -South dialogue. Constitutional law of Arnim looks because of the collusion on the guest list one advantage-taking by Wulff, why the prosecutor must determine. The prosecutor's office has launched investigations against the organizer Manfred Schmidt for bribery.

Wulff said to have also personally invited guests to the feast. This is clear from e- mails that were found on the computer of Wulff's former spokesman Olaf Glaeseker; the computer was staatsanwaltschaftlich seized on suspicion of receiving bribes against Glaeseker. Wulff had previously stated that there had been a case aligned for him by Manfred Schmidt celebration.

It is known that Schmidt has at least require entrance fees in the amount of 3,000 Euro for the celebration and for the opportunity of networking in individual cases; Wulff said previously always a " private party ".

Accusation of charge for use of a Vorserienmodells of Audi

Early February 2012, reported several newspapers Wulff and his wife had until December 2011 Q3 get put from the VW group to " promotional purposes " without charge to the middle of 2011, a pre-production model of Audi. Wulff's lawyers disagreed with this view and go from a targeted " false reporting " from; against reporting a preliminary injunction has been obtained. The Berliner Zeitung, which had reported on the free use, this allegation does not maintain due to new information; but it maintains its (also in the injunction not attacked ) reporting, the carriage was ordered from Audi and delivered to Berlin. According to a report by Spiegel Online the car after delivery of Bettina Wulff was not accepted as a Vorserienwagen can not be admitted as usual and Bettina Wulff did not want to go with a red number plate.

The participating Berliner Audi Centre is also alleged to have granted Bettina Wulff non-market conditions when buying a new Audi Q3 and the making available of a rental car the same type of order to delivery vehicle. About the dealership had already been reported, as it Wulff has a Bobby-Car given on the occasion of his son 's birthday and the manager was invited to the summer festival 2012 in Bellevue. Wulff rejects all allegations associated with the processes.

The Berlin public prosecutor's office reviewed the instigation of investigations. It is about the Bobby -Car to buy clothes that were Bettina Wulff left for the wedding, and the use of the Audi Q3. According to Wulff's lawyers the Bobby -Car stand at Bellevue Palace in the " Children's Corner" for visitors children. The clothes were taken into account in the tax return.

Wulff is also a violation of the Lower Saxony Minister of Law accused because he has leased a Škoda to (cheaper ) rate for VW employees in 2010; Wulff could take these employees in collective claim because he, a directorships held as representative of the state of Lower Saxony, which has a share of VW shares.

Allegation of payment of traveling by David Groenewold

The film producer David Groenewold has repeatedly paid travel bills for Wulff. Wulff said he had Groenewold reimbursed for these costs always cash.

Regarding a trip to Sylt in 2007 Wulff claims to have paid the cost of the room even at the reception in cash to Groenewold and also paid the extra expenses by credit card; Wolfgang Kubicki holds this representation for " unrealistic " and untrustworthy. Groenewold the hotel in mid-January 2012, called and demanded the evidence of that journey; on refusal of the hotel to send this, he has finally picked up in person. The opposition leader in the parliament of Lower Saxony Thomas Oppermann speaks of " cover-ups and blackout Actions "; he bases his suspicion that the SPD had to put a question to the state government at the time, as Groenewold picked up the documents which funds have received this as a film producer from the country. Groenewold does not deny to have the documents requested by the hotel; but it contradicts the representation that there had been a cover-up attempt.

Wulff had used in 2005 and 2006 for the concerns of the film industry that benefited Groenewold et al. In addition, the state of Lower Saxony granted a company in which he was involved, a guarantee amounting to four million euros. The filmmakers have lost the company, according to his own statement to Lower Saxony, Wulff because there " with much personal important impetus for the development of the media landscape " give.

According to Hans Herbert von Arnim Verheimlichungshandlungen would be an indication of a corruption case. The Hanover public prosecutor checks whether an investigation should be initiated because of the allegations.

The allegations again led to numerous calls for his resignation, including from Thomas Oppermann and Claudia Roth.

Criticism of the handling of the allegations

Accusation of deliberate misleading of the public with lies and half-truths ( " Wulffen " )

Were often criticized Wulff's reactions on the grounds that he had misrepresented facts or falsifying. In his television interview Wulff has said, for example, a business in which he had been on holiday, was " retired today, so to speak ," although these were on the Board of an insurance company; just as he has the free vacations presented as it was had been concerned only " five or six days to have breakfast there in Italy or seven days with friends to cook with friends together, to sleep in the guest room ," although the host part, were not part only briefly present

This behavior has often been criticized as a " tactical relationship to truth ," for the verb " Wulffen " distribution found.

Accusation of broken promise for transparency

In the interview broadcast on ARD and ZDF in early January Wulff said:

"Tomorrow will hire my lawyers all the Internet early. Then every citizen, every citizen, every detail can see what is happening. "

The next day, a six -page summary of the operations appeared from the perspective of the firm Redeker Sellner dahs by lawyer Gernot Lehr. Several minutes later in the same interview broadcast Wulff had still said:

"So at 400 questions - and when asked what to eat, there was your first marriage and who has your second paid and whether you have paid the maintenance for your mother - and I could now call a thousand things more - and who 's clothes has paid for your wife, which were borrowed, which will be taxed as a kind of non-cash benefit - then I can only say: I 'll give you like 400 questions, 400 answers ".

The Legal Tribune Online Martin W. Huff took the view that the disclosure associated with the announced legal issues are solvable only through flat-rate summary of what is already known, otherwise the individual rights of the individual journalists would be affected. On January 12, gave the time, The World, picture, Der Spiegel, the Berliner Zeitung and the Frankfurter Rundschau the publication of their requests free. The next day the world group documented all of their questions along with answers on the internet. At the same time it was announced that a lawyer had forwarded teaching press inquiries to the credit of the world affair Wulff at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper already on December 23. On January 18, presented the above-mentioned firm packs three documents totaling 237 pages on the net, with copies of individual requests from journalists via e -mail and the accompanying answers, to the extent ( limited if any) of these enabled. In the course of further releases of these documents have been expanded in scope later.

Reactions

Public prosecutors and request for waiver of immunity

On 16 February 2012, the Hanover public prosecutor requested the waiver of immunity by Christian Wulff to initiate investigation for receiving bribes and granting of advantages. Shortly before the Lower Saxony State Chancellery had handed over the files on the financing of the North -South dialogue, as well as the guarantee commitment to the film business Groenewold to the prosecutor. The Berlin public prosecutor's office reviewed the recording of a criminal investigation because of advantage-taking. Already in mid-January had several criminal law professors, Klaus and Thomas Rönnau people, it refers to, among other things as unusual that the prosecution not detected more comprehensive. Bernd Schünemann is the view that there is already enough coverage from the actual evidence. Simultaneously with the withdrawal ended the immunity of the President.

End of May 2012 presented the Berlin public prosecutor her examination procedure due to lack of existing initial suspicion, because there is no actual evidence of an unlawful agreement and related criminal behavior of Wulff were available. There were indeed granted to him by company benefits ( a -given Bobby Car, favorable lease terms for an Audi Q3, dresses sponsorship for Bettina Wulff ), partly it was also done transparent, the companies would Wulff, however, want to use primarily as an advertising medium, not to be to gain political advantage.

Action before the State Court

The opposition in the Lower Saxony state parliament has filed a lawsuit in the Lower Saxony state court on February 21, 2012. She looks into the information about the financing of the North -South dialogue deception of Parliament.

Calls for his resignation and withdrawal

Shortly after the beginning of the reporting were from opposition politicians and individual CDU politicians (such as Vera Stadtlengsfeld ) calls for his resignation loud. Even people in public life, as the scientist Dieter Grimm, the Internet activist Martin Heidingsfelder and Marcel Reich-Ranicki demanded the resignation of the President. SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel is the opinion expressed by his end of December, a withdrawal would lead to a crisis of the state, moved away and expressed beginning of February 2012, Wulff was " really no longer a President, it resides only in the Bellevue Palace ".

The David Groenewold paid in 2007 and allegedly reimbursed in cash hotel stay on Sylt other leading politicians from all parties except the CDU demanded the resignation; Angela Merkel Wulff continue their confidence.

In the population initially declined consent for Wulff to his television interview in early January, 2012. According to ARD Germany trend was before the television interview, a slight majority for his resignation. After the interview was a slight majority in favor of his whereabouts; this number decreased during the month of January. Early February, 54% of respondents were in favor of a withdrawal.

For the first time in the history of the Federal Republic there were demonstrations with the aim to move the President to resign.

On February 17, 2012 Christian Wulff resigned from the office of president. He justified his step with the geschwundenen confidence.

Discussion of the honorarium

Even before the resignation have two jurisprudential opinion - one of Hans Herbert von Arnim, the other by the Scientific Service of the German Parliament - dealt with the question of whether Wulff in the event of a resignation would receive the so-called honorarium in the amount of 200,000 euros per year. Because the law provides a claim against only one resignation for health or political reasons. Both reports came to the conclusion that it would be a resignation for personal reasons and therefore no Wulff Ehrensold states. Von Arnim pointed out that Wulff had no other supply claims and therefore over the years " destitute would stand there "; This he interpreted as a relevant subject Wulff to want to stay in office. The assessment of Arnim found in state law learning agreement and dissent.

The Federal President announced early March 2012 that Wulff receive the honorarium because there had been a cancellation for political reasons. The Committee on budgetary policy of the Federal Parliament concurred with this assessment. The jurisdiction of the Federal President is disputed in legal studies. Responsible is the Ministry of the Interior, which is why the decision of the Federal President is unlawful.

The issue sparked a public debate on the authorization Wulff and the appropriateness of the level of honor Soldes. In the population there were at the time of decision 84 % wrong that Wulff gets the honorarium. Wulff himself had said a few days before the start of his tenure as president, the honorarium was too high; one must do there " smears ".

Big tattoo goodbye

On March 8, 2012 Christian Wulff received a farewell ceremony, the grand tattoo of the Bundeswehr in Berlin. Guests attended, among others, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and members of the federal government. By contrast, said four Bundestag Vice President, the four surviving former Federal President (Horst Köhler, Roman Herzog, Richard von Weizsäcker and Walter Scheel ), the President and the Vice President of the Federal Constitutional Court their participation from.

In the vicinity of the event, there was a demonstration by several hundred citizens who want to disturb by loud Vuvuzelagetöse and heckling the curfew. Due to the Berlin police vuvuzelas were seized, " [ to ] the ongoing acoustic disturbance of the ceremony to prevent [ ... ] ". However, the noise in the castle itself were good to hear.

Then Wulff moved for a stay of relaxation to a monastery.

Evaluation of media coverage

The reporting in the " Wulff affair" is rated ambivalent. On the one hand, image, mirror, F.A.Z. and Süddeutsche Zeitung, but also the public- service broadcasters and television stations accused of being their duty to inform the general public about before the election to the presidency recognizable gewesenen later allegations failed to comply with, further exaggerated critical reports to the detriment Wulff and " manipulative tactics " served to have. It was also speculated that from a " media campaign ". On the other hand, the coverage is praised because the media is all the more important as part of the public, the less other instances acted as prosecutor and as a supervisory jurisdiction.

The reporting of the Bild newspaper about the " credit Affair " was awarded the Henri Nannen Prize in the " Investigative Journalism ". The ceremony caused a scandal, as the also excellent editors of the Süddeutsche Zeitung rejected its price as a protest against the award of the Bild newspaper.

Satirical workup

The " Wulff affair" was the subject of numerous caricatures, satirical articles and jokes, even during the carnival season 2011/12. Ironic and partly malicious posts were disseminated via the Internet. On Twitter, for example, were under the keyword hashtag # wulff movies early on a variety of mocking movie title widespread. The satirical magazine Extra 3 of the NDR synchronized eg Loriots known Sketch The lottery winner ( "My name is Erwin Lindemann " ) new; WDR 5 published a fictional recording of the call by Wulff on Kai Diekmann answering machine. Many German satirist and comedian attacked the subject in different media forms, including, for example, Bernd Stelter, Oliver lime kiln and Harald Schmidt.

A cartoon of Karl Lagerfeld had the title Little Red Riding Hood has yet to Wulff desired ( with Little Red Riding Hood Angela Merkel was meant ). Mickey Mouse brought the image of an intervening at Duck courier "dog Woof President ".

The satire magazine Titanic came in the issue of February 2012 with the caption: " The President Sylvia. Why not a slut? "

Some companies used the Wulff affair by it alluded in their advertising.