Man Prosecuted for Hugging German Chancellor on Frankfurt Airport Runway

The public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt, Germany, has announced legal action against a man who hugged Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the Frankfurt airport runway.

In a statement to the German Press Agency (DPA), Frankfurt’s public prosecutor spokesperson, Dominik Mies, said the man faces charges of endangering traffic and trespassing. The prosecutor’s office submitted the indictment to the Frankfurt District Court.

In May 2023, the man joined Scholz’s motorcade with his private car, gaining access to the airport grounds. He embraced the Social Democratic politician as he was preparing to board his plane.

The prosecution believes the man did not initially recognize who was in the motorcade he randomly encountered on the highway. Reports indicate he was under the heavy influence of drugs, including cocaine or crack. The man claimed he mistook the motorcade for one carrying his cousin, who he thought was driving a similar car. He added that the cars appeared “very fancy” to him.

The incident sparked debates about security measures, though Scholz remained outwardly calm, stating he never felt threatened.