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That doesn't mean they can't be arrested and charged with crimes they commit while in office, as long as the arrest and trial occurs after they leave, does it?
by einhverfr 15y ago
That doesn't mean they can't be arrested and charged with crimes they commit while in office, as long as the arrest and trial occurs after they leave, does it? Indeed they could even be charged in between sessions, couldn't they?
- nknight 15y agoThe point isn't the "arrest" part (which doesn't mean what you think, actually -- they can, in fact, be arrested and charged for serious crimes while serving, and have been), it's the totality of the clause and its history, which acts to protect and caution against the criminalization or suppression of political activity. It's not a straightjacket, but more a statement of principle and warning shot. Edit: By the way, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_privilege http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_privilege