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European Parliament Lifts Petr Bystron’s Immunity for Third Time Over Suspected Staff-Allowance Fraud

The move lets Munich prosecutors resume a preliminary probe into alleged use of Bundestag funds to pay a cleaner plus Bystron’s lawyer.

Overview

  • A majority of MEPs in Strasbourg approved the measure after the Parliament’s legal affairs committee recommended lifting immunity.
  • Munich prosecutors are examining whether Bundestag staff allowances were used to pay a private cleaner and attorney Peter Solloch during Bystron’s time as an MP.
  • Investigative reporting by Die Zeit indicates the payments could have diverted several hundred thousand euros in public money.
  • This is the third removal of his EU immunity after prior actions in 2025 tied to a photomontage case and a separate Voice of Europe corruption and money-laundering probe.
  • Bystron denies wrongdoing and calls the cases politically motivated, while the photomontage fine remains under appeal and the corruption investigation is ongoing.