The German Bundestag has overwhelmingly approved a reform of the law on intelligence services. The new law will give more powers to the German secret services, domestic and foreign intelligence agencies, in the fight against espionage, terrorism and acts of sabotage.
According to the voting result, 309 lawmakers voted in favor of the new law, 190 voted against, while 71 others abstained. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who promoted the draft, has called it the reform of the century and a necessity in the face of growing threats from foreign powers.
The change was approved on Sunday, November 15, 2026. In its honor, the composition of the Bundestag was also mentioned. The German secret services, which for historical reasons have been mainly focused on gathering information rather than acting on it, will gain new powers.
The foreign intelligence agency BND and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, BfV, are the two agencies directly affected by the reform, according to the title of the law.