“Corona Entrepreneur” – Award Given, Truth Omitted? Ballweg Demands Clarification from Böhmermann

Ballweg: Award Announced, But Never Delivered

Michael Ballweg commented bluntly:

“If you hand out awards on TV, you should have the guts to actually present them. I would have gladly accepted the prize — on the show. But Jan Böhmermann remains silent. Maybe the ‘Coroni’ was just satire — but then it was satire at my expense, with real consequences.”

Allegation: Media Campaign Triggered by Tax Authorities

In a detailed evidentiary motion, the defense alleges that Jan Böhmermann was contacted by the Stuttgart II tax office before the broadcast, with the intent of using satire to stir public outrage against Michael Ballweg. This, in turn, allegedly led to criminal investigations and formal charges. Böhmermann’s comment on the show that the tax office “sends its regards” was, according to the defense, not a joke — but a sign of political coordination.

The explosive part: The Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (OLG) cited the show in its decision of November 14, 2022, to extend Michael Ballweg’s pre-trial detention. The defense sees this as clear evidence of media-driven prejudice.

When Satire Becomes a Script for Criminal Trials

In a constitutional democracy, we should expect that verdicts are not based on TV scripts. But in Ballweg’s case, “ZDF Magazin Royale” seems to sit right next to the Criminal Procedure Code on the judge’s shelf. The difference? Böhmermann gets ratings — Ballweg got nine months in jail.

Defense Demands Personal Testimony

By summoning Böhmermann, the court should clarify whether his statements were purely satirical or based on real communication with government agencies — and how this influenced the course of the investigation and criminal proceedings.

“Satire can do anything — but not everything can be replaced by satire,” said defense attorney Gregor Samimi.

ZDF as a Legal Source? Criticism of Questionable Use of TV Broadcasts

The defense criticizes the Stuttgart OLG for apparently treating ZDF television shows as reliable legal sources. Böhmermann’s show not only played a major role in Ballweg’s pre-trial detention extension.

In the ongoing case of the fatal stabbing of police officer Rouven Laur during a rally on May 31, 2024 in Mannheim, Herbert Anderer, the presiding judge of the state security panel, referred to ZDF investigations about alleged Russian involvement in Islamist attacks — despite these claims having been deemed unreliable by the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND).

Rouven Laur was 29 years old and died two days after being stabbed by an Afghan assailant during a police operation at a public assembly. His death shocked the nation and sparked widespread mourning.

For Ballweg’s defense team, one question remains:

How can satirical or questionable journalistic content be used as evidence in criminal cases — with direct consequences for the freedom of the accused?

“If criminal sentencing is based on what’s on TV, it’s only a matter of time before verdicts are based on viewership numbers. And nobody should want that — not even ZDF,” the defense concluded.