BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told Bild newspaper he would not bow to demands to dismiss Hans-Georg Maassen, who was set to take up a senior role in the interior ministry after being ousted as spymaster.

On Friday a deal between the ruling coalition parties to give Hans-Georg Maassen a better-paid ministry job unravelled when Andrea Nahles, leader of the Social Democrats, said it was a mistake. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the three party leaders want to find a solution this weekend.

“I emphatically reject the accusation that he is right-wing or takes right-wing extremist positions,” Seehofer told Bild newspaper of Maassen, adding: “I will therefore not dismiss him.”