[Puffer Fish]

German former spymaster under surveillance by his own agency over ties to Right-wing

A German former spymaster is being observed by the agency he used to run after being branded a Right-wing extremist.
Hans-Georg Maassen was the head of Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency under Angela Merkel, and was still a member of her CDU party until recently.

He was dismissed as BfV head in 2018 after appearing to play down the threat of violence from Right-wing extremists who were rioting in an eastern German city. In the five years since, Mr Maassen has become known for his increasingly radical commentary on the threat he claims immigration poses to Germany.

German former spymaster under surveillance by his own agency over ties to Right-wing extremists, James Jackson, The Telegraph, January 31, 2024


Sounds like politically-motivated retribution, and "purging" out "enemy" political supporters from the intelligence services.
Many of those on the Left equate Right-wingers to dangerous, in the same category as terrorist sympathisers or worse.

[Potemkin]

Looks like his phone is bugged!

[Beren]

Looks like the abyss gazed back into him and he failed the test.

[Deutschmania]

The German government hasn't just been targeting those on the political right however . Even more so , they have been surveilling those of the Left , such as various Communist groups and figures. Really , what the secret police of the Federal Republic of Germany are trying to suppress is supposed "extremism" , no matter what side of the ideological spectrum it comes from . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_(Germany)#Controversies ,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/german-intelligence-agency-to-spy-on-far-right-afd-party ,

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/what-pushed-germany-to-place-the-far-right-afd-under-surveillance-12714214 ,

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959264440/germany-expected-to-put-right-wing-afd-under-surveillance-for-violating-constitu ,

https://www.wsws.org/en/topics/event/verfassungsschutz ,

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/08/01/jkvp-a01.html

[Potemkin]

The German government hasn't just been targeting those on the political right however . Even more so , they have been surveilling those of the Left , such as various Communist groups and figures. Really , what the secret police of the Federal Republic of Germany are trying to suppress is supposed "extremism" , no matter what side of the ideological spectrum it comes from . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_(Germany)#Controversies ,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/german-intelligence-agency-to-spy-on-far-right-afd-party ,

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/what-pushed-germany-to-place-the-far-right-afd-under-surveillance-12714214 ,

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959264440/germany-expected-to-put-right-wing-afd-under-surveillance-for-violating-constitu ,

https://www.wsws.org/en/topics/event/verfassungsschutz ,

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/08/01/jkvp-a01.html

That sounds pretty backward to me….