Last year, the then BSI President Schönbohm was dismissed. A letter from the ministry has now emerged justifying the step – with allegations from a ZDF broadcast and with “a large number of incidents”.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior justified the controversial dismissal of the then President of the Federal Office for Information Technology (BSI), Arne Schönbohm, last year with allegations of misconduct in various cases. The letter to Schönbohm dated October 18, 2022 is available to the dpa news agency.
In it, the ministry explicitly refers to allegations that were spread after the ZDF program “Magazin Royale” was broadcast in October 2022. But then it 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.” A selection of the other allegations is then listed.
“Loss of trust makes further administration impossible”
In its letter, the ministry refers to “allegations regarding excessively close contacts with Russian circles and companies,” which were made in the ZDF television program and subsequently in various media reports.
“Regardless of how valid these are and whether they ultimately prove to be correct, 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 says further.
List of allegations
The ministry lists other points where “inadequacies” have “irreparably shaken” trust – including “lack of political sensitivity”, “excessive press work” and “insufficient cooperation with the technical supervisory authority”.
When asked, a spokesman for the ministry said that the decision to change the head of the BSI was consistently based on a lack of trust in the administration of the then president. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser was repeatedly accused of having relieved Schönbohm of his duties without good reason.
No Disciplinary proceedings against Schönbohm
Jan Böhmermann’s satirical show “ZDF Magazin Royale” had previously discussed Schönbohm’s closeness to a club that had come under criticism for alleged contacts with Russian secret services.
At Schönbohm’s request, a preliminary disciplinary review was carried out by the ministry. According to the ministry, findings from other authorities in the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s area of responsibility were also compiled. In the end, no disciplinary proceedings were opened. Schönbohm is now President of the Federal Academy for Public Administration.
He initially tried to legally defend himself against his dismissal from the top of the BSI and is now demanding damages from the federal government and compensation and a cease-and-desist declaration from ZDF. The broadcaster rejected this.