Coalition partner Merkel wants departure from the BfV chef

berlin - The social democratic coalition partner of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the head of the internal security service BfV to resign. 'For the party management of the SPD it is crystal clear: Maassen has to leave', said party secretary Lars Klingbeil. He called Merkel to intervene.

BfV chef Hans-Georg Maassen recently came under fire due to his reaction to unrest in Chemnitz. He questioned whether there had been a manhunt on foreigners. He also seemed to question the authenticity of video images of right-wing violence, although he would have argued later that his statements were misinterpreted.

Minister Horst Seehofer (Home Affairs) had earlier on recorded it for BfV chief Hans-Georg Maassen. The minister made it clear in the Bundestag that he still has confidence in the security chief. The CSU minister stated that Maassen wanted to prevent the spread of conspiracy theories.