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One would have thought that the Maaßen affair was finally over. Hans-Georg Maßen, German President of Constitutional Protection, should be replaced after long struggles led by the German government at the Ministry of the Interior with Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) – as a consultant.
But that should not be the case now. Apparently, because of new controversial statements, Mabaden should be compensated according to information from the circles of the coalition now but after temporary retirement. What makes things even more remarkable: Maaßen should have asked, at least in the newspapers of the media group Funke, citing circles of security.
Interior Minister Seehofer had long protected Maaßen and rejected his dismissal because of controversial statements about the far-right riots in Chemnitz. Now, the leftist opposition has called for the resignation of Seehofer. On Monday, it was expected that Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) will soon declare the case.
"The statements of Mr. Maaßen are known to the BMI and are under review," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. Once the review is completed, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Seehofer, "will draw the necessary conclusions".
Maaßen Speech of 18 October
In his October 18 speech to the "Berne Club" – an international series of intelligence officials – the President of the Constitutional Protection said the report said he could imagine a life outside the public service . He could "also in politics or in the private sector," he said according to a manuscript.
In the speech, Maaßen painted a picture of a conspiracy against him: "leftist forces" within the SPD would have wanted to use it as a way to end the controversy sparked by the grand coalition of social Democrats. They were supported by the Greens, the left and representatives of the media. Maaßen claims to be a pawn victim of the speech after reacting only to the events of Chemnitz in summer. Mabaden delivered his speech as an unofficial document on the intranet of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Excitement by moderation since the summer
Maaßen had come in the summer because of an interview in the critics in which he had questioned the authenticity of a video for the riots of the right in Chemnitz in August and had denied it. existence of hunting. His contacts with AfD politicians had also caused irritation.
The grand coalition of the Union and the SPD have discussed the future of Maaßens for weeks. After a promotion initially planned for the post of Secretary of State, it was finally agreed to replace him by the Ministry of the Interior as special advisor for European and international issues. However, in light of the new statements, he is currently on the verge of taking a temporary retirement.
The SPD expects Seehofer to draw clear conclusions from the recent statements of the outgoing German intelligence service officer Hans-Georg Maaßen. SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil said Monday on ZDF that he was confident that "Mr Seehofer, Minister of the Interior, will decide quickly."
"What's leaking from this talk is not appropriate," Klingbeil said.
"It is not for nothing that we demanded the dismissal of Maaßens a few weeks ago because of his solitary efforts and constant ricochets," said Burkhard Lischka, SPD expert. In the meantime, "Mr. Seehofer obviously came to this idea", but "very late". This also makes Seehofer a "loser".
Laschet (CDU) also speaks of "nonsense"
CDU Vice President Armin Laschet told ZDF that the Mabaden affair should not "go beyond absurdity". If the Maaßens page is "now still nachgekartet, I think the Federal Minister of the Interior is certain of the consequences".
FDP domestic policy expert Benjamin Strbader said Maaßen "was due to visit several weeks ago because of its many border crossings." Instead, the Minister of the Interior, Seehofer, "stubbornly held Maaßen". It is now "in front of the ruins of its perverted staff policy".
Deputy head of the left, Andre Hahn, said Maaßen had "no sense of guilt". "If you want to do politics yourself, you can not be accepted as a head of government or a senior ministerial official." Wednesday, at the meeting of the internal committee, "Horst Seehofer should then explain and, ideally, withdraw from the hat after defending Mabaden to the end."
The successor of Maaßens to the presidency of constitutional protection would be his former vice, Thomas Haldenwang. However, the Ministry of the Interior has not confirmed the appointment of this 58-year-old lawyer.
(APA / AFP)
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