- Title: German domestic spy chief sacked for breaching neutrality rules
- Date: 5th November 2018
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE - JULY 24, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF MAASSEN AND SEEHOFER AT NEWS CONFERENCE TO PRESENT ANNUAL REPORT OF OFFICE FOR PROTECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 1, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAASSEN RECEIVING CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT FROM THEN INTERIOR MINISTER HANS-PETER FRIEDRICH
- Embargoed: 19th November 2018 14:30
- Keywords: Horst Seehofer Hans-Georg Maassen head of domestic intelligence spy Chemnitz early retirement
- Location: BERLIN & COLOGNE, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN & COLOGNE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004958ASSN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The head of Germany's domestic security service has been dismissed for a speech in which he criticised government parties, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Monday (November 5).
Seehofer said the speech made by Hans-Georg Maassen, in which he accused the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition, of "naivety" and harbouring "radical left" elements, was unacceptable.
Germany's ruling coalition had agreed in September to transfer spy chief Maassen to the Interior Ministry following accusations that he harboured far-right views.
Maassen had questioned the authenticity of video footage showing far-right radicals hounding migrants in the eastern city of Chemnitz. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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