German minister cleared by auditors over "limousine affair"

German minister cleared by auditors over "limousine affair" Berlin - German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt did not break the rules when she used a ministerial limousine while on holiday in Spain in July, the federal audit office said Saturday.

The minister, from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), was dropped from her party's shadow cabinet for the general election in September as a result of the scandal. Her use of the S-Class Mercedes came to light when it was stolen in the Spanish resort of Alicante.

Opposition politicians were outraged that Schmidt had ordered the car to be driven some 2,500 kilometres to Spain, calling it a waste of taxpayers' money.

However, following an investigation, the audit office said that the minister had "used the limousine in accordance with the relevant regulations," and that the taxpayer had suffered no undue expense.

The audit office agreed with Schmidt's account that it had been appropriate to use the vehicle for the two official engagements that she had had in Alicante.

It wasn't clear if Schmidt would now play a part in the SPD's front-line election campaign.

The party has suffered falling opinion-poll ratings in recent weeks, partly as a result of the affair. It is trailing well behind Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, its coalition partner. (dpa)