An unemployed teacher was given a four-month suspended sentence today and ordered to perform community service for slapping German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schroeder in the face at a Social Democrat party event in May.
The court in the town of Mannheim described 52-year-old Jens Ammoser as a "scatterbrain" but said physical assault was an unacceptable way of expressing political discontent.
An unpopular programme of welfare cuts has unleashed a wave of anger against Schroeder's government and tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets. Earlier this week, protesters in the eastern city of Wittenberg threw eggs at Schroeder, but missed.