Arno Bausemer is accused of striking a 14-year-old boy with a baseball bat after an alleged dispute over an AfD campaign poster. Prosecutors also intend to examine a separate incident in which his blood-alcohol level was recorded at 1.25 parts per thousand.
Prosecutors in Stendal, Germany, plan to open criminal proceedings against Bausemer, a member of the European Parliament for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and will ask for his parliamentary immunity to be lifted, Die Zeit reported on 18 August 2026.
The main case concerns the alleged assault of the teenager, who was reportedly suspected of damaging an AfD election poster. The boy was injured after Bausemer allegedly attacked him with a baseball bat. Prosecutors intend to combine that investigation with a separate case arising from a traffic stop the previous week, when police stopped Bausemer and a voluntary blood test recorded an alcohol level of 1.25 parts per thousand.
Immunity request puts allegations before European parliament
The proposed request to lift Bausemer’s parliamentary immunity is a significant procedural step because it would allow the German authorities to pursue the criminal case against a sitting MEP. The authorities’ intention is not the same as a final court finding, but it places the allegations directly before the institution in which Bausemer serves as a legislator.
The alleged assault began with damage to political campaign material, according to the reported account. Even if the poster was damaged, responding by striking a 14-year-old with a baseball bat was an unjustified and aggressive reaction. A political disagreement or dispute over campaign material should be addressed through lawful channels rather than physical force.
The reported conduct therefore raises questions about Bausemer’s ability to control himself when confronted with a conflict. It also suggests a willingness to resolve a dispute through force instead of relying on legal procedures, a particularly serious concern when the person involved holds elected office and helps shape laws that apply to others.
Alcohol allegation adds to pressure on AfD representative
The traffic incident brings a second alleged breach of legal norms into the same investigation. Police stopped Bausemer during a roadside check, and the voluntary blood analysis showed 1.25 parts per thousand of alcohol. Prosecutors plan to join this matter with the case concerning the teenager’s injuries.
The drink-driving allegation undermines the image of Bausemer as a responsible lawmaker and citizen. It is not simply an additional personal controversy: combined with the assault allegation, it creates a broader picture of conduct that appears inconsistent with the standards expected of someone who represents voters at European level.
The two episodes are separate, but their proximity gives the case added political weight. One involves the alleged use of violence against a minor in response to damage to an AfD poster; the other concerns driving after alcohol consumption. Together, they risk shifting attention from the party’s political message to the conduct of one of its representatives.
Contradiction with law-and-order rhetoric
The allegations also expose a tension between the AfD’s rhetoric about restoring law and order and the behaviour attributed to one of its representatives. A party that presents respect for rules as a central political principle is vulnerable when an elected member is investigated over alleged violence and suspected drink-driving.
That contradiction does not determine the outcome of the criminal proceedings. It does, however, make the case politically consequential. The issue is not only whether Bausemer will face prosecution, but whether the party and the European Parliament will treat the allegations as a test of the standards demanded from public officials.
The immediate next step is the request to remove Bausemer’s parliamentary immunity. Until that process is completed, the investigation remains dependent on a decision that links the legal case to the political responsibilities of a European representative. How the institution responds will help determine whether immunity is seen as a procedural safeguard or as an obstacle to accountability.
Should the European Parliament lift Arno Bausemer’s immunity promptly, or wait for further clarification of the allegations?
