The opposition Social Democratic Party gave notice today to the Bundestag, lower house of Parliament, that the legislation to extend the statute of limitations on prosecution of Nazi war criminals must be passed finally by the end of next week if the statute is to be extended beyond the present cut-off date of May 8.
Both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, the upper house, have approved the extension in principle, but are awaiting a draft bill to come from the Bundestag’s legal committee. The committee is to spell out the details, either setting a new cut-off date or, possibly, subjecting Nazi war criminals to future prosecution without any limitation as to date.
The Social Democrats noted today that the final bill must be passed on both second and third reading in time for publication in the Government’s official gazette, so that the measure would take effect before May 8.
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