The Local Germany

Court clears ex-president of 'favours' charges

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:05:00 +0100

UPDATE: Former German President Christian Wulff was on Thursday cleared of charges he received financial favours during his time in office as state premiere of Lower Saxony.

Ex-president: 'trial could haunt me forever'

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:48:00 +0100

UPDATE: Former German president Christian Wulff launched a spirited defence at the start of his influence-peddling trial on Thursday, saying the accusation that cost him his job may haunt him for the rest of his life.

Ex-president's 'favours' trial begins

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 09:11:00 +0100

The trial of Germany's former president Christian Wulff opened on Thursday. He is accused of accepting financial favours in 2008 while he was state premier of Lower Saxony, but some say he is the victim of a media witch hunt.

Ex-president to face trial over €800 hotel payment

Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:57:00 +0200

Germany’s former president will be put on trial this autumn for allegedly accepting €800 towards a hotel bill at a beer festival, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

Ex-President hit with official corruption charge

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:47:00 +0200

State prosecutors in Hannover officially charged ex-President Christian Wulff with corruption on Friday, over a year after he was forced to step down amid a storm of media allegations.

Wulff rejects deal and fights for reputation

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:22:00 +0200

Germany's former president Christian Wulff took a step closer to a public trial - or exoneration - on Tuesday by refusing to pay a fine to prevent a prosecution. He could now face charges of corruption.

President 'feels sorry' for ousted predecessor

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0100

German President Joachim Gauck, who celebrated his first year in office on Monday, has said he felt sorry for his beleaguered predecessor Christian Wulff and his now ex-wife Bettina.

Lack of evidence may prevent ex-President trial

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:41:00 +0100

Disgraced German ex-President Christian Wulff may not have to stand trial for corruption allegations which cost him his job last year, as prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence against him, a newspaper said on Sunday.

Disgraced ex-president Wulff splits from wife

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:59:00 +0100

A year after he resigned as Germany's president in disgrace after failing to shake off a string of corruption-related allegations, Christian Wulff has separated from his wife Bettina, it emerged on Monday.

Ex-president 'gave bad info to corruption probe'

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:11:00 +0100

Former president Christian Wulff’s old spokesman has accused him of giving a false statement during a corruption investigation.

President moves 'ugly' portraits of predecessors

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:19:00 +0100

President Joachim Gauck has moved a new series of portraits of his predecessors to a side room in the Bellevue palace, after a series of complaints from visitors that the paintings were ugly. The artist was unimpressed.

Former first lady sues over red light rumours

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:22:00 +0200

Bettina Wulff, the wife of German ex-president Christian Wulff, is suing a TV moderator and Google for helping spread rumours about her life before her marriage.

Ex-president 'hid' prize money in private account

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:58:00 +0200

Former President Christian Wulff has been accused of putting prize money destined for charity into his personal bank account – and not declaring it. Prosecutors are considering whether to start proceedings against him.

Vuvuzelas mar Wulff's farewell ceremony

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:21:00 +0100

Vuvuzela-wielding protestors kept up a constant barrage of noise at a torchlit military ceremony on Thursday for Germany's former President Christian Wulff who left office under a cloud.

Germany's biggest political scandals

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:06:00 +0100

Following the resignation of President Christian Wulff amid accusations of impropriety, The Local decided to look at post-war Germany's biggest political scandals.

Can Gauck be president 'while living in sin?'

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:47:00 +0100

Germans generally agree that Joachim Gauck is a good choice for president. But can the ex-pastor be the nation's moral authority while staying married to one woman yet living with another set to become First Lady? Have your say.

Profile: Joachim Gauck, Germany's 'President of Hearts'

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:49:00 +0100

Joachim Gauck, 72, an East German Lutheran pastor and human rights activist nominated as Germany's next president, hopes to restore faith in the office after damaging scandals toppled his predecessor.

A painful submission or Merkel’s masterpiece?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:07:00 +0100

Joachim Gauck’s ascension to the German presidency looks like a slap in the face for Chancellor Angela Merkel, but as many papers have spotted, they have plenty in common. The Local’s media roundup surveys opinion.

East German activist to be new president

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:01:00 +0100

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her coalition and the opposition had agreed Sunday to nominate former East German rights activist Joachim Gauck as a consensus candidate to become the country's next president.

Merkel’s presidential problem

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:13:00 +0100

The resignation of German President Christian Wulff amid allegations of corruption may be quickly forgotten, but Chancellor Angela Merkel’s poor judgement will remain, writes The Local’s Marc Young.