German espionage chief becomes special advisor

The former head of the German intelligence service BfV, Hans-Georg Maassen, becomes a special adviser at the Ministry of the Interior.

Maasen became discredited after he questioned the authenticity of videos in which extreme right violence was seen. He later stated that his statements had been misinterpreted. Maassen meant, in his own words, that it had not been proven that the hunt for foreigners could be seen on the statues, as had been claimed.

With the Sunday compromise an important point of contention between CDU, CSU and SPD has been set.