German defense minister faces calls to resign over drones

Iran Press TV

Thu Jun 6, 2013 5:16PM GMT

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere is facing calls to step down for squandering 600 million euros on a drone project, Press TV reports.

Since de Maiziere cancelled the project on May 14, he has appeared before several parliamentary committees in Berlin to explain why his ministry spent such a large amount of money before calling off the purchase of surveillance drones.

The opposition has accused de Maiziere of wasting funds by not acting earlier.

The plan was cancelled since the drone lacked the anti-collision systems required for approval by European aviation authorities.

Germany had decided to buy US-made drones from Northrop Grumman.

The surveillance drones were planned to be equipped with special signal interception devices and then renamed Euro Hawk.

On Monday, de Maiziere is to be questioned again in a special session of the parliamentary budgeting committee.

The scandal deals a blow to the ruling coalition as de Maiziere is regarded as one of the closest allies of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

CAH/KA