Controversial German intelligence chief with early retirement

The politically controversial director of the German Internal Security Service, Hans-Georg Maassen, was sent early with immediate effect. Interior Minister Seehofer announced on Monday. This weekend, the call for immediate dismissal of Maassen gained momentum after it was made clear that, in a speech to his European colleagues, he had strongly criticized the men political and media in his country, thus accusing hysteria and naivety. Regeringspartij SPD would even be guided by "radical leftist forces" in its ranks.

Maassen also mentions in this speech a possible transition to politics or business, which is also very unusual for a chief of secret services still in office. Minister Seehofer spoke of "unacceptable formulations" that prevent us from working together on a basis of trust.

In September, Maassen, with controversial statements as well, plunged the German coalition into a serious crisis. In an interview with the newspaper Bild he commented – to prove later unfounded – the racist remarks of far-right protesters from the city of Chemnitz, in East Germany, and attacks against people from immigration. These events follow a quarrel in which a German was killed following a theft with an Iraqi and Syrian suspect

. hunt. According to Maassen, there would be good reasons to assume "that it is deliberately misleading information, possibly to distract attention from the murder of Chemnitz". Not only was there no "murder" but a hint of manslaughter. It also turned out that Maassen had not provided any concrete indication of misinformation. And that an attack from a far right group on a Jewish restaurant was committed, he did not mention it at all. [ad_2]
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