Germany to abolish law on insulting foreign leaders

The Justice Minister of Germany announced Wednesday the country would do away with a long-standing law prohibiting Germans from insulting foreign heads of state.

Heiko Maas called the law "outdated and unnecessary.” The law stemmed from its original use as protections for monarchs. Germany's last monarchic period ended when World War I did.

The timing of the change and Donald Trump becoming U.S. president could be coincidental. However, Trump has openly questioned the importance of the European Union, which Germany effectively anchors. He's also called German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies “catastrophic.”

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2018.

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