- Title: German domestic spy chief sacked for breaching neutrality rules
- Date: 5th November 2018
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 5, 2018) (REUTERS) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER HORST SEEHOFER ARRIVING PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, HORST SEEHOFER, SAYING: "Ladies and gentlemen, today I have asked the president (Frank-Walter Steinmeier) to place the head of the domestic security service Dr. Maassen in early retirement. The primary reason for this was the content of a speech by Mr. Maassen which contained unacceptable formulations. Against this background, a trusting relationship with me or any other people involved is no longer possible." VARIOUS OF SEEHOFER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, HORST SEEHOFER, SAYING: "The German cabinet will decide on Mr. Maassen's successor and the restructuring of the top of the service. I will soon make a suggestion to the cabinet after reaching agreement with the coalition. Let me be very clear that the signal sent by this decision is important to me in supporting and promoting pragmatic work in the coalition." JOURNALISTS / SEEHOFER (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, HORST SEEHOFER, SAYING: "I consider it unacceptable to speak of 'radical left' elements in parts of the SPD and describing security and migration policy as naive and left etc., also crosses a line in my view."
- 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: LVA001958ASSN
- 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: REUTERS
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