Assassination of Martin Beiter
| Assassination of Martin Beiter | |
|---|---|
 Martin Beiter during his speech, a few minutes before the assassination | |
| Location | Melmingia, Heraldsteinland, Besmenia |
| Date | February 5, 1991 10:13 AM |
| Target | Martin Beiter |
Attack type | Sniper assassination |
| Deaths | Martin Beiter |
Non-fatal injuries | Leon Dänkmann |
| Perpetrators | Michael-Joe Lammer |
Martin Beiter, the 8th Prime Minister of Besmenia, was assassinated on February 5, 1991, in Melmingia, Heraldsteinland, while he was giving a speech on a stage. Beiter was hit by two rifle shots. Michael-Joe Lammer was arrested as a suspect. The police confirmed on February 7 that Lammer was the culprit and that he acted alone. After 5 weeks in prison, Lammer was given the death penalty. It was the first time in Besmenian history, that a politician was assassinated in public.
Background
Martin Beiter went to Melmingia on February 4, 1991. The reason was the city's 1000th anniversary. He also wanted to collect donations for his party colleague and the then Governor of Heraldsteinland Daniel Ulfborn for the 1991 Heraldsteinland state election. He announced his trip to Melmingia in November 1990.
Reactions after the assassination
Reactions in Besmenia
The death of Martin Beiter came as a shock to the Besmenian public. People cried in public everywhere. Many peoples left their jobs to watch reports of the attack on the radio or television. Concerts and events were canceled nationwide for the next days.
After Beiter's death, President Otto Heimmann temporarily took over the position of Prime Minister for a week. He ordered a 3 day state mourning. On February 15, the Federal Chamber elected Kurt Stöger as Prime Minister, who was since 1980 Minister for Foreign affairs and a closest confidant of Beiter. Stöger took office on the same day. Stöger was to hold office for the remaining 19 months before the next elections.
In August 1991, the Federal Chamber designated the 5th February as Martin Beiter Memorial Day. The city of Melmingia renamed the place of the assassination to Martin Beiter Memorial Square.
Reactions in other countries
The death of the liberal Prime Minister was also a shock in other countries.
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Yisrael: The President and Leader of the Knesset put out a joint statement "bemoaning the loss of a strong leader or freedom on the world stage. May Martin Beiter's soul be uplifted." Many in the political class publicly and privately expressed sadness and loss at the loss of one of the Southeast Belisaria's leading liberal leaders.