BSI affair
Faeser questioned about the Schönbohm affair in the Interior Committee
The Committee for the Interior and Homeland has invited Federal Interior Minister Faeser on the occasion of the controversial dismissal of the head of the authority, Schönbohm. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Nancy Faeser answers questions about the Schönbohm case in the Interior Committee and later in the Bundestag. The Union’s criticism of her person is primarily “campaign noise,” says the SPD parliamentary group.
FDP: Survey unfortunately “too late”
Unfortunately, Faeser is “too late,” said deputy FDP parliamentary group leader Konstantin Kuhle. He called the allegations made by the Union, which Faeser had publicly rejected, “outrageous.” It was not a good thing that the Interior Minister had not been on the Interior Committee earlier, said the Parliamentary Managing Director of the Green Party, Irene Mihalic. She could have cleared up the allegations earlier. The Union faction’s domestic policy spokesman, Alexander Throm, said his group had many questions for the minister. He hoped that she would take enough time to answer.
Reference to Böhmermann allegations
In a letter to the then BSI President, explicit reference was made to allegations that were spread after the ZDF program “Magazin Royale” was broadcast in October 2022. The letter then goes on to say: “In addition, there are a number of incidents in connection with the technical and personnel management of the office, which have also irreparably damaged the Minister’s trust in her administration.” The ministry also refers to “allegations of excessively close contacts with Russian circles and companies,” which were made in the television program and subsequently in various media reports. “Regardless of how valid these are and whether they ultimately prove to be accurate, a loss of trust has occurred in public opinion, which makes continued office impossible and significantly impairs the BSI’s ability to fulfill its tasks in the eyes of the public,” it continues .
When asked on Wednesday whether he had learned anything new about Schönbohm’s possible questionable contacts from the broadcast, FDP parliamentary group deputy Kuhle answered “No.”
SPD: The Union’s handling of Faeser is just election campaign noise
The SPD faction demonstratively supported Faeser before the interviews. The first parliamentary group leader, Katja Mast, told the German Press Agency that she looks at the dates calmly. “What’s going to come out of that?”
Faeser is the SPD’s top candidate in Hesse for the state elections on October 8th. Mast sees the Union’s criticism of Faeser as primarily “campaign noise”. “The fear of Nancy Faeser’s election victory in Hesse runs deep within the CDU,” she said. Mast praised Faeser as Interior Minister who is finally ushering in a paradigm shift in migration, who is making breakthroughs that the Union has not been able to achieve for decades and who is taking a hard hand against enemies of the constitution.