Calls for Maassen to resign

Christian Lindner, head of the opposition Free Democratic Party (FDP), has joined the growing number of voices calling for Maassen to step down, saying that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) needs a new start following the controversy over the treason investigation into two journalists.

The call for a treason inquiry was brought under Maassen's direction, said Lindner.

"He expedited this charge through a report from his department," Lindner told the dpa news agency. "Maassen obviously did so because he didn't have his department under control and because he wanted to intimidate journalists - or at least accepted the intimidation of journalists."

Lindner also demanded a reappraisal of the political roles of Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.

"Who knew what and when? Who influenced who - or not, as the case may be," Lindner asked.

Justice minister 'helpless and directionless'

Lindner sharply criticized Maas, saying: "The justice minister has appeared helpless and directionless in the last week. He is responsible for the chaos of the past days.

"He was informed about Mr. Range's investigation from the beginning," Lindner said. "If he had legitimate concerns in relation to the allegations of treason, he should have voiced them on earlier."

He said that making Range a "scapegoat" was "bad form and also political irresponsibility."

Maas sacked Range on Tuesday after the chief federal prosecutor said the government asked him to drop an independent investigator from the inquiry into whether blog Netzpolitik revealed state secrets in articles about plans to step up state surveillance.

The justice minister responded by saying he no longer had confidence in Range and rejected his statements as "incomprehensible."

Maassen resignation 'long-overdue'

Bernd Riexinger, co-chairman of Germany's Left party, also called for Maassen to go, telling the business daily "Handelsblatt" on Thursday: "The resignation of BfV President Hans-Georg Maassen is long-overdue, he initiated the whole treason affair with his call for an investigation."

But Stephan Mayer, parliamentary domestic policy spokesman for the Christian conservatives, defended Maassen, telling the "Passauer Neue Presse:" "The criticism isn't justified. If confidential documents are continually leaked into the public domain, an agency head can't readily accept it.

"If Maassen hadn't done anything, he could be criticized for violating his official duties."

Social Democratic Party politician Lars Klingbeil accused de Maiziere and Maassen of "ducking out" on their roles in the affair, telling the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" that the affair was "truly remarkable" and must be explained.

mh/sms (dpa, Reuters)