Prolonged Vacancy in Chief Posts of Constitutional Protection: Positions Remain Unfilled for Nearly Nine Months
The top position at Germany's domestic intelligence service, the Cologne Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has been vacant for nine months, causing concern among political figures and civil servants.
Thuringia's head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, understands the long search for a successor and believes the minister is taking his time to make a good personnel decision. The German government coalition is currently negotiating the re-appointment for the top position at the BfV.
In the meantime, Silke Willems and Sinan Selen are acting as heads of the domestic intelligence service in an interim capacity. The vice-presidents of the BfV have made a significant contribution to the office's operational status, and the SPD does not express concern about the office being led by the vice-presidents in the interim.
However, the service is headless, lacking a guiding leadership and a clear vision. A civil servant familiar with the Federal Office finds it deeply disturbing that the position is still vacant. The two vice-presidents do not have enough influence to adequately represent the interests of the office in personnel, financial, and legislative matters.
The implications of this prolonged vacancy are significant for the BfV's effectiveness and reputation. The BfV plays a crucial role as Germany's domestic intelligence service tasked with protecting the democratic constitutional order by monitoring extremist threats. A leadership gap can hamper strategic decision-making, operational coherence, and coordination among federal and state intelligence bodies, potentially weakening early warning capabilities and responses to emerging threats.
Additionally, the vacancy during a politically sensitive period contributes to questions about the agency’s stability, undermining public and political confidence in its ability to balance security with civil liberties amidst legal challenges from surveilled groups like the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The former head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Hansjörg Geiger, expressed surprise that the president's position has not been filled yet. The loss of reputation for the office is occurring and increasing as the vacancy continues. The SPD believes that quality should come before speed in filling the position.
Sonja Eichwede, a member of the Parliamentary Control Committee (PKGr) for monitoring the intelligence services, agrees that the BfV is "fully operational". However, she also acknowledges the concerns about the agency’s reputation and stability during this prolonged leadership vacancy.
An former head of a state office for the protection of the constitution is concerned about the reputation of the Cologne headquarters. The prolonged vacancy of the top position at the BfV is considered unusual in the history of the Federal Republic. The SPD partner in the government has reserved opinions on the new appointment.
The Federal Minister of the Interior, Dobrindt, will make the decision on the succession at an appropriate time. Until then, the BfV continues to function, but the question of its leadership and the impact on its effectiveness and reputation remains a pressing concern.
The SPD does not express concern about the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution being led by the vice-presidents in an interim capacity, but they acknowledge the service's headless state as deeply disturbing, given the office's role in policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news. The prolonged vacancy of the top position at the BfV is considered unusual in the history of the Federal Republic, raising questions about the agency’s stability and reputation.
