Crime or misdemeanour?

Joschka Fischer's radical past has come back to haunt him.

Photographs of the German Foreign minister beating up a policeman during a demonstration in the 1970s were published by a magazine and led to calls for his resignation.

Mr Fischer apologized for what he called his "dark past" as a radical activist in the Green Party, but refused to step down. He appears to have public opinion on his side.

Does it matter what our politicians were up to ten, twenty or thirty years ago? Can some past actions be ignored while others cannot? Where would you draw the line?

For this Europewide debate, Mark Reid brought together two journalists, Kriszta Fenyo in Budapest and Marianne Landzettel, a German working in London to give their assessment.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

I think the actions were extreme

David Mercer, Wales

I think the actions were extreme. However, it does show the evolution of a political mind. Thank God he has learned to use the system rather than attack it.
David Mercer, Wales

The PM of Greece used to be a member of a left-wing organisation and he has admitted to constructing small explosive devices. Nobody in Greece reacted to that like people did in Germany with Joschka...
Andy, Greece, now Scotland

Will skinheads be forgiven as well when they become foreign ministers?
Fritz Matthaeus, Germany

If one is allowed to excel, one is allowed to err.
Mark M. Newdick, USA/ UK

Joschka Fischer has learned from his mistakes

Sonya, Germany

Joschka Fischer has learned from his mistakes, he now knows how to do better. He even dares to admit his former errors in public instead of hiding them. He is honest about himself. In my opinion he is the right person in the right place !
Sonya, Germany

Just because someone is a policeman doesn't automatically put him in the right. With reference to Greg's comment about terrorists in government, Nelson Mandela was considered by some to be a terrorist - it depends on where you're coming from.
Paul O' Hagan, England

It stands to reason that it would be unfair to expect him to step down now for a single act of battery committed in the remote past.
Adam Gajlewicz, Poland

Joschka Fischer has been elected by voters who were largely aware of his past, and they decided that what he can contribute outweighs his 'past sins'. Like Clinton's voters knew he was a womaniser. So, the people's vote should stand. It would be different for politicians who provide false information on their past.
Klaus Meyer, Denmark (German citizen)

I find it comforting that we can have a "real" person in power.
Simon, UK

A strange choice for Foreign Minister

Aaron Hooks, Germany

I must say, as a resident of Germany, that I find the selection of a radical left-winger and former anti-American protester a strange choice for Foreign Minister. Then again, in America, Clinton dodged the draft and still became Commander-in-Chief of the military.
Aaron Hooks, Germany

Really it would depend on the crime the politician committed, wouldn't it? If Joschka Fischer's actions had killed or seriously injured a police officer that would certainly be a different matter to frightening the police officer as appears to have happened. Some actions can never be forgiven but Fischer hasn't proven to be a Kurt Waldheim, yet.
Philip, USA

That's absolutely silly. It happened many years ago and doesn't affect anyone today.
Chris, Germany

Of course it does not matter. In Northern Ireland we let terrorists become members of government! Given the antics of most politicians it would appear that a criminal background is the only life experience they need.
Greg, UK

I think it is important to remember that politicians are people. I mean give him the common penalty for such an act.
Peter Bolton, UK in USA