Third MP hit in graft scandal roiling Merkel s conservatives Mark Hauptmann, a CDU lawmaker from the eastern German state of Thuringia, gave up his mandate but denied accusations that he had received payments from foreign governments such as Azerbaijan to lobby for them. FILE: A photo taken on 27 June 2019 shows German politician and member of parliament Mark Hauptmann of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party as he speaks on the subject of start-up policy in the eastern states of Germany during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin. Picture: AFP
15 days ago
BERLIN, GERMANY - A German lawmaker for Angela Merkel s ruling CDU party on Thursday became the third conservative parliamentarian to step down this week amid allegations of corruption, days before crucial regional elections.