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February 8, 2012
Merkel’s guards revealed as ex-Stasi
Published: 3 Jul 09 10:54 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090703-20357.html
Two policemen assigned to guard Chancellor Angela Merkel’s weekend house in the Uckermark region of Brandenburg used to be in the East German secret police, known as the Stasi, it was revealed Friday.
- Wulff case 'a chance to open up German politics' (7 Feb 12)
- Sarkozy looks to Merkel for re-election help (6 Feb 12)
- Leftist crime on the rise (6 Feb 12)
According to the programme, many former Stasi officers have found work in the Brandenburg State Office of Criminal Investigation. The Brandenburg Interior Ministry has confirmed 58 cases, 9 of whom work in the state security department. Some have risen to higher ranks.
The news has prompted outraged reactions from various authorities. Stasi historian Roger Engelmann told ARD, “I can hardly believe it. I thought they had all been filtered out.” Rainer Wendt, head of the police union, spoke of a “complete failure of the government.”
“The State Office of Criminal Investigation is of vital importance to the whole country’s state security. There are many points of intersection with our spies and anti-terrorist operations. We need to have absolutely no doubt of the state loyalty of the people who work in these departments,” Wendt said.
The Local (news@thelocal.de)
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