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Conservative MP admits alcohol problem after car accident

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Conservative MP admits alcohol problem after car accident
Photo: DPA

A senior MP from Angela Merkel’s conservatives has admitted he is an alcoholic and checked himself in for treatment after fleeing the scene of a minor car accident on Saturday night.

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Andreas Schockenhoff of the Christian Democratic Union released a statement on his website apologising to his family and acknowledging that he has an alcohol problem.

Schockenhoff, 54, a member of the German Bundestag for 20 years, is his party’s deputy parliamentary leader for foreign affairs, defence and European Union policy.

“I’ve become aware that I have an alcohol problem. I have reached the conclusion myself that I need to go into medical treatment and in-patient therapy in the coming days,” he said in his statement.

“Recent years have been very demanding for me personally and health-wise. I regret the whole incident and apologise in every way for my behaviour. I am also sorry to my family and my friends whom I have seriously burdened with my illness.”

Schockenhoff is under investigation for drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident on Saturday night in Baindt, in his Baden-Württemberg electoral district. State prosecutors began formal proceedings against the MP on Thursday, daily Bild reported.

Schockenhoff has admitted he ran into a parked car outside a music festival and then drove away, though he says he meant to report the accident the following day.

Police took a blood sample from the MP on Saturday night that showed an alcohol level well above 0.2 percent – at least four times the legal limit, Bild reported, citing prosecutors. He had his driver’s licence revoked, though he initially lodged an objection to this.

The Local/djw

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