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WORLD NEWS Monday 24 SepteMber 2018

German government reaches deal to solve spy chief dispute

By GEIR MOULSON and Seehofer — a conser-
Associated Press vative ally, but a longtime
BERLIN (AP) — Leaders of critic of her initially welcom-
German Chancellor Ange- ing approach to refugees
la Merkel’s governing co- in 2015 — faced off in June
alition reached a deal Sun- over whether to turn back
day to resolve a standoff some migrants at the Ger-
over the future of the coun- man-Austrian border.
try’s domestic intelligence Responding to violent right-
chief, a dispute that has wing protests following the
further dented the image killing of a German man, al-
of their fractious six-month- legedly by migrants, in the
old alliance. eastern city of Chemnitz,
The center-left Social Dem- Maassen said his agency
ocrats have insisted that had no reliable evidence
Hans-Georg Maassen be that foreigners had been
removed as head of the “hunted” down in the
BfV spy agency for appear- streets — a term Merkel
ing to downplay recent had used.
violence against migrants, A video posted by a left-
but conservative Interior wing group showed pro-
Minister Horst Seehofer has testers chasing down and
stood by him. In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 photo Hans-Georg Maassen and German Interior Minister Horst attacking a foreigner but
Last week, coalition leaders Seehofer, shake hands as they arrive for a hearing at the home affairs committee of the German Maassen questioned its
agreed to replace Maas- federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany. Associated Press authenticity.q
sen as head of the BfV
but give him a new job as has been laid for us to re-
a deputy interior minister, turn to substantive work.”
a promotion with a hefty A left-leaning Social Dem-
pay increase. The move ocrat deputy leader, Ralf
prompted a backlash from Stegner, described it as
furious Social Democrats, “a good solution.” The dis-
prompting party leader An- pute has clouded the gov-
drea Nahles to call for the ernment’s future at a time
deal’s renegotiation. when the three parties
On Sunday, coalition lead- face major challenges in
ers agreed instead to make upcoming state elections,
Maassen a “special ad- in Seehofer’s home state of
viser” at the interior ministry Bavaria on Oct. 14 and in
with responsibility for “Euro- neighboring Hesse on Oct.
pean and international is- 28. The infighting appears
sues,” Seehofer said. He will to be weighing down their
remain at his current pay support, which hasn’t re-
level. In addition, a deputy covered since a national
interior minister and expert election a year ago in
on construction issues, So- which all three coalition
cial Democrat Gunther parties lost ground and the
Adler, will now keep his job far-right Alternative for Ger-
rather than making way for many entered parliament.
Maassen. Nahles will have The coalition of Merkel’s
to sell the new compromise Christian Democratic
to her party’s leadership on Union, Seehofer’s Bavaria-
Monday. “I think it is a very only Christian Social Union
good signal that we took and the Social Democrats
the criticism of our deci- took office in March after
sion on Tuesday evening Nahles’ party decided re-
seriously and were able to luctantly to join up.
correct it,” Nahles told re- It has already been through
porters. She declared that one crisis that threatened
“overall, the foundation its survival, when Merkel