Former German President goes on trial November 14, 2013 - 09:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former German President Christian Wulff is to go on trial accused of receiving and granting favors in office. He is alleged to have accepted the payment of hotel bills by a film producer in return for lobbying while he was premier of Lower Saxony in 2008, BBC News reports. Wulff - who stepped down in February 2012 after less than two years in the post - is Germany's first former head of state to answer charges in court. The 54-year-old rejects the allegations and has vowed to clear his name. Film producer David Groenewold also faces similar charges. Wulff is alleged to have allowed film producer David Groenewold to pay hotel bills in Munich during the Oktoberfest beer festival in 2008 and on the northern island of Sylt in 2007. In return, Wulff is accused of having lobbied German companies to support Groenewold's work. Prosecutors had sought to put the former head on trial for corruption, but the court only approved the less serious charges. If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail or a fine. Wulff and Groenewold had rejected an offer from the prosecutor in March to settle the case with a fine - a procedure allowed for cases not considered especially serious. Wulff, Chancellor Angela Merkel's choice for president, resigned amid a welter of unfavorable coverage in the German media dealing with his links to businessmen. The pressure on him increased at the end of December 2011 with allegations, published in the mass circulation Bild newspaper, about a low interest home loan received from the wife of a wealthy businessman in 2008. He was accused of giving misleading statements about the loan and later apologized to the editor of Bild, Kai Diekmann, for leaving an angry message on his voicemail threatening him if the story was published. Merkel had pushed strongly to get Wulff, from her center-right CDU party, appointed to the largely ceremonial post in 2010. At the time of his resignation, she said she accepted it "with respect but also with regret" and that she was convinced he had "acted legally". Wulff was succeeded by the Lutheran pastor and former East German anti-communist campaigner, Joachim Gauck.  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation  About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Almaty.Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015.Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. |
