Thomas Haldenwang is no longer the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD), told the Bundestag’s Interior Committee about his departure on Wednesday.
However, the domestic intelligence agency was unaware of the resignation, confirming that deputy heads Sinan Selen and Silke Willems will take over temporarily.
Haldenwang’s decision to run for a Bundestag seat with the CDU has sparked significant controversy, particularly due to his role in overseeing the AfD, which he has linked to extremism. Critics argue that his candidacy undermines the neutrality expected from his office. Constitutional law expert Volker Boehme-Neßler condemned it as a “misuse of the constitution,” while Arnd Diringer of Ludwigsburg University decried it as a blow to constitutional values.
The media was equally critical. Stern magazine labeled him the “AfD Employee of the Month,” mocking his late political turn. Investigative journalist Tim Röhn called his candidacy “outrageous,” suggesting that Haldenwang might now use his intelligence knowledge in the campaign, which could benefit the AfD.
Haldenwang’s move comes after his push to reassess the AfD’s observation status. Critics fear his candidacy could affect fairness in the upcoming election. Since becoming BfV president in 2018, Haldenwang had focused on monitoring the political right, classifying the AfD as “suspected right-wing extremists.” His tenure also saw him targeting critics of COVID-19 policies while notably not classifying the climate group “Last Generation” as extremists.
Haldenwang’s resignation and political aspirations now raise questions about his impartiality and the future of the BfV.
