The former president of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and former Prime Minister of Northern Rhine -Westphalia ‘Armin Laschet was arrested a few months ago by cameras for breach of the speed limit.

Mr Lasset is considered to be the most likely to take over the Foreign Ministry in the next government, and a few days ago he accompanied outgoing Minister Analena Berbock on her visit to Syria and Lebanon.

The police claimed that he was followed by strangers and felt that he was in danger.

Mr Lasset “arrested” speed control camera last July in Aachen while driving at speed 97km/hour in an area where the limit was 50 km/h. Infringement involves deduction of driving license for one month, fine -heeled fine 428.50 euros and two degrees for the driver.

The day after the incident, Mr Lasset appeared to the police and claimed that he was accelerating because he noticed two unknown men to follow him by car and felt that he was in danger, influenced, as he said by threats against his life he had previously received when he was Prime Minister.

He even refused to pay the fine and filed an appealwhich was to be tried in the Aachen regional court in May. A few days ago, however, Armin Lasset withdrew the objection because, as Bild told the newspaper, the prosecutor’s office failed to locate and recognize the occupants in the car that was moving behind his own.

He is therefore called upon to pay normally the fine imposed on him. “It may happen to drive over speeds, but it should not happen. Fortunately in my case no one was in danger, at least not from me, “he said.