Overview
- Lawmakers unanimously removed the protections, authorizing a military disciplinary case tied to Gnauck’s past Bundeswehr service and a criminal investigation involving Akbulut.
- In filings that Gnauck posted online, investigators cite his activity in the AfD youth wing, which domestic intelligence has classified as a suspected extremist case.
- Gnauck says the case file highlights social‑media likes for AfD figures including Björn Höcke, a like for Compact magazine and one for the group Ein Prozent, plus past roles in the youth wing.
- He says the inquiry has dragged on for about six years after earlier steps that included a prior lifting of his immunity and a court pause later challenged by the Bundeswehr.
- Under German law, members of parliament are shielded from prosecution unless the Bundestag lifts immunity on the Immunity Committee’s advice, which is what happened here.