Angela Merkel admits mistake in handling Maaßen’s case

The German government’s coalition partners agreed Sunday to move the head of the domestic intelligence agency to a new position with the same pay grade after facing a backlash over their prior decision to promote him.

Instead of moving to a better-paid role within the interior ministry as initially agreed, Hans-Georg Maaßen will become a special adviser to the ministry on European and international issues, including migration, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told a press conference.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday admitted she made mistakes in handling the firing of intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maaßen, saying she regrets the public outcry over what was widely seen as a promotion.

“The result of last Tuesday was not convincing,” Merkel said at a press conference. “I thought too much about the functionality and the procedures in the interior ministry, but too little about how it affects people when they hear of a promotion. I very much regret that this could happen.”