Turkish-born Sinan Selen appointed new head of German domestic intelligence

Sinan Selen has been appointed to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which has been without a president for more than ten months in Germany.

The Istanbul-born terrorism expert Sinan Selen intends to focus the domestic intelligence service more on Russia.

According to media reports, the CDU/CSU and SPD have agreed on the new president of the BfV. Reports from Handelsblatt, Bild, and Table Media indicate that the agency’s current vice president, Sinan Selen, will take over the position.

According to these reports, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to inform the agency’s employees by letter on Monday. The cabinet could approve the appointment on Wednesday.

Selen will be the first person of immigrant origin to hold a senior position in the federal security authorities. A terrorism expert, Selen was born in Istanbul in 1972. His parents were journalists at Deutsche Welle, and Selen immigrated from Türkiye to Germany when he was four years old. A few years ago, he successfully applied to renounce his Turkish citizenship.

Since 2019, Selen has served as the vice president of the German domestic intelligence service alongside Silke Willems. He previously worked at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and was responsible for security at the Tui Group.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been an agency without a president since November 2024. Thomas Haldenwang left the presidency of the intelligence service at that time because he wanted to enter the Federal Parliament for the CDU in the Wuppertal constituency.

Selen recently stated that the BfV will focus on Russia’s activities. In an interview with Welt am Sonntag at the end of August, he said, “Our role as a defense service is becoming increasingly important.”

Defense against attacks by foreign powers, counter-terrorism, and defense against violent extremism are among the most important priorities. Selen claimed, “Our country is the target of a wide variety of Russian actions: in addition to low-level agents, cyber attacks, disinformation, and concrete sabotage are also increasing.”

According to N-tv, security circles say that Selen is a “genuinely good man.” He is the “top professional in the German security authorities” and will carry out this duty successfully.