Germany news: Trial starts of ex-Transport Minister Scheuer

A perjury trial against former Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer kicked off at the Berlin District Court on Monday.

Scheuer and his co-defendant Gerhard Schulz, a former state secretary, are accused of having lied to a parliamentary committee investigating a failed scheme some seven years ago to levy a highway toll on foreign motorists.

Both of them deny the charges made against them.

The two are accused of lying to the committee about having signed a contract with a company to run the toll operations despite knowing that the European Court of Justice (ICJ) was likely to declare the scheme illegal.

Scheur's Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of the Christian Democrats (CDU) currently led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz,  had devised a plan to levy tolls on all drivers but then compensate German motorists by reducing their motor vehicle taxes.

The scheme was shot down in 2019 by the ICJ for breaching EU rules.

But by that time, the Transport Ministry under Scheuer had already signed binding contracts with the operators who were to be tasked with executing the plan.

The German government was then forced to pay €243 million ($283 million at current exchange rates) in damages to the companies involved.

The trial is planned to take place over 12 days, with a verdict expected on November 25.

If found guilty, the accused could face jail sentences ranging from three months to five years.

The DW newsroom on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn wishes all its readers guten Tag at the start of a new week.

Among the big topics of the day in Germany is the start of a trial against former Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer in connection with a failed car toll scheme that cost the government hundreds of millions of euros some seven years ago.

He stands accused of making false statements before a parliamentary committee investigating the issue.

In more positive news, cherry (and pear) farmers have something to smile about this year: They have had their best harvest in years owing to some mild spring weather.

And we will also, of course, be looking at the fallout from recent state elections that have brought bad news for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU).

Read on to find out more about these and other stories.