CDU-Leadership Candidate - Redmanns Alcohol Tour - Committee Should Clarify Procedures
After CDU top candidate Jan Redmann's alcohol ride, a controversy over police handling has erupted. The opposition Left faction harbors suspicions that Redmann was favored. The focus is mainly on the handling of an internal police report on Redmann's drunk driving on an e-scooter. In a joint special session of the Interior and Justice Committee of the Landtag, the Interior and Justice Ministerium will answer the questions of the deputies on Wednesday. Redmann himself will not be present.
The LKA has filed a report for suspected breach of official secrecy
Moreover, it became known that, according to the Interior Ministry, there is a suspicion that secrets were leaked. A spokesperson for the ministry informed dpa that the State Criminal Police Office had taken up the case on its own initiative based on the suspicion of breach of official secrecy and special confidentiality. It concerns the suspicion that confidential police reports - so-called reports of important events (WE) - were passed on to unauthorized third parties. Previously, the "Tagesspiegel" reported this.
Confidential WE reports are, according to the Interior Ministry, generally classified as confidential information. Even Redmann's alcohol ride, which the police in Potsdam stopped while he was drunk on an e-scooter, led to such a report. It was not intended that additional state authorities should receive WE reports in addition to the Interior Ministry as the highest authority, as the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry explained. "The only exception is the Minister-President personally, to whom all electronically incoming WE reports are automatically forwarded." This exception regulation was set by the Interior Minister on the request of the Minister-President. A government spokesperson told the "Tagesspiegel" still: "Of course, we do not pass on WE reports to unauthorized third parties."
More than a week ago, Redmann, the CDU state and faction leader, was stopped by the police in Potsdam while riding an e-scooter with a breath alcohol level of 1.3 promille. A blood alcohol level of 1.1 promille is a criminal offense. Redmann informed the media about the incident around twelve hours later and admitted an error.
Left demands clarification
The interior and justice spokesperson for the Left faction, Marlen Block, said in Potsdam, there is a justified suspicion that processes were delayed by the CDU-led Interior Ministry to give Redmann a window of time for his transparency campaign. "It's about the question of what influence the ministries have taken."
The Brandenburg Police reportedly sent the electronic report on Redmann's alcohol control only one day later internally. This is a WE report. Left deputy Block criticized that an electronic transmission, which would lead to the State Chancellery being informed, should only have been sent 30 hours after the control.
"The principle of electronic transmission can be deviated from, for example, to ensure that the personal rights of those affected are not violated," the Police Presidium had told the German Press Agency earlier. Block said: "We consider that a pretext." She referred to the serious traffic accident of the Left state parliamentarian Bettina Fortunato. In this case, the State Chancellery was informed within an hour.
In the Chancellery, Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) receives WE-alerts from the Press Office of the Interior Ministry - not directly from the Brandenburg Police - according to the government spokesperson on the procedure.
Transport Minister hopes for deterrent effect
Brandenburg's Transport Minister Rainer Genilke (CDU) hopes that the nighttime alcohol ride of his party friend will have a deterrent effect on potential traffic offenders. "That's the good thing about such examples. That he also told others: 'Quit it! It doesn't work.'''
Terminlink
- The controversy over Redmann's alcohol ride has led to suspicions of favored treatment by the opposition Left faction.
- The Interior and Justice Committee of the State Parliament will hold a joint special session to address the issue on Wednesday.
- The LKA has filed a report for suspected breach of official secrecy regarding the incident.
- The Interior Ministry has revealed suspicion of secrets being leaked, leading to a case being taken up by the State Criminal Police Office.
- Confidential WE reports, including Redmann's drunk driving incident, are considered confidential information by the Interior Ministry.
- The Left faction accuses the CDU-led Interior Ministry of delaying processes to give Redmann a window of time for his transparency campaign.
- The Brandenburg Police reportedly sent the electronic WE report on Redmann's alcohol control a day later internally, raising concerns from the Left faction.
- Transport Minister Rainer Genilke hopes that Redmann's alcohol ride will serve as a deterrent to potential traffic offenders.
- In Brandenburg, Minister-President Dietmar Woidke receives WE-alerts from the Press Office of the Interior Ministry, not directly from the Brandenburg Police.
