The Liberal Party’s defense spokesperson Lars Christian Lilleholt believes that Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen (S) should have interfered in the independent supervision of the Intelligence Services’ harsh criticism of the Defense Intelligence Service, FE, so that it had never come to light.
He says this after an open consultation with the Minister of Defense on Wednesday. Thus, he fully supports former Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen’s (V) criticism of the Minister.
In connection with the Authority’s criticism, several senior employees of FE have been sent home and the press has described a confidential agreement as the reason. The confidential agreement was not described in the press release.
– The Minister has been far too patient. As early as December, the Minister knew there was a criticism. The Minister should have entered into a dialogue with the supervision and solved the challenge that was and is, says Lars Christian Lilleholt.
Trine Bramsen has repeatedly emphasized that this is an independent supervision. And that it would be decidedly illegal for her to interfere in its work or the press release on the criticism of the FE sent out by the regulator on 24 August.
To the question of whether it is not illegal for the Minister to interfere in an independent supervision, Lars Christian Lilleholt says:
– Yes Yes. But there is nothing to prevent the Minister from entering into a dialogue with the Authority. All indications are that the Minister has been far too patient. And has not been the task adult in terms of taking action.
Following the Authority’s press release, a number of media outlets based on anonymous sources wrote that the criticism was about a top secret collaboration between Denmark and the USA, where a data cable is being monitored.
Former Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen (V) has subsequently confirmed this in a series of interviews. And has harshly attacked that the case ended with a press release that ended in media coverage of the deal.
At the Conservatives, defense spokesman Niels Flemming Hansen believes that the responsibility for the secret cooperation has come to the public’s knowledge lies with both Trine Bramsen and those who have described it anonymously or by name in the press.
– It’s a combination of both. The Minister’s handling means that the public’s interest is aroused. Then there have been some statements from previous ministers in the field. It is clearly problematic.
– But the big problem is if the confidence of the Defense Intelligence Service internationally is fading. Because that is crucial information that international cooperation gives us, he says.
Lars Christian Lilleholt sees no problem in the fact that Claus Hjort Frederiksen has given a number of interviews and confirmed the secret collaboration.
– I support 100 percent behind Claus Hjort Frederiksen’s statements. It is not Claus Hjort’s handling of the case that is the problem.
– It is the minister who has handled it in full openness, which is the reason for the challenge we have been given, he says.
He says this after an open consultation with the Minister of Defense on Wednesday. Thus, he fully supports former Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen’s (V) criticism of the Minister.
In connection with the Authority’s criticism, several senior employees of FE have been sent home and the press has described a confidential agreement as the reason. The confidential agreement was not described in the press release.
– The Minister has been far too patient. As early as December, the Minister knew there was a criticism. The Minister should have entered into a dialogue with the supervision and solved the challenge that was and is, says Lars Christian Lilleholt.
Trine Bramsen has repeatedly emphasized that this is an independent supervision. And that it would be decidedly illegal for her to interfere in its work or the press release on the criticism of the FE sent out by the regulator on 24 August.
To the question of whether it is not illegal for the Minister to interfere in an independent supervision, Lars Christian Lilleholt says:
– Yes Yes. But there is nothing to prevent the Minister from entering into a dialogue with the Authority. All indications are that the Minister has been far too patient. And has not been the task adult in terms of taking action.
Following the Authority’s press release, a number of media outlets based on anonymous sources wrote that the criticism was about a top secret collaboration between Denmark and the USA, where a data cable is being monitored.
Former Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen (V) has subsequently confirmed this in a series of interviews. And has harshly attacked that the case ended with a press release that ended in media coverage of the deal.
At the Conservatives, defense spokesman Niels Flemming Hansen believes that the responsibility for the secret cooperation has come to the public’s knowledge lies with both Trine Bramsen and those who have described it anonymously or by name in the press.
– It’s a combination of both. The Minister’s handling means that the public’s interest is aroused. Then there have been some statements from previous ministers in the field. It is clearly problematic.
– But the big problem is if the confidence of the Defense Intelligence Service internationally is fading. Because that is crucial information that international cooperation gives us, he says.
Lars Christian Lilleholt sees no problem in the fact that Claus Hjort Frederiksen has given a number of interviews and confirmed the secret collaboration.
– I support 100 percent behind Claus Hjort Frederiksen’s statements. It is not Claus Hjort’s handling of the case that is the problem.
– It is the minister who has handled it in full openness, which is the reason for the challenge we have been given, he says.