FILE PHOTO: Andrea Nahles, leader of Social Democratic Party (SPD), speaks during a budget debate at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, July 4, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) said on Friday that it was difficult to explain to people why the domestic intelligence chief was being promoted at the same time as being sacked so it was necessary to re-open talks on this matter.

“We took a decision that was received with general incomprehension by citizens,” SPD leader Andrea Nahles said of the deal under which Hans-Georg Maassen was booted as intelligence chief but promoted to a senior job in the interior ministry.

Nahles said the fault was shared by her SPD, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats and their Bavarian allies and they would now revisit their decision.