Sinan Selen: From Vice to President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution – A rise in integration!

Sinan Selen: From Vice to President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution – A rise in integration!

On September 14, 2025, it was announced that Sinan Selen was introduced as the designated President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). His appointment adds to an impressive career marked by his entry into German society. Selen was born in Istanbul in 1972, came to Germany with his parents at the age of four and grew up in Cologne. His parents were journalists at Deutsche Welle, which had a decisive influence on his career. Selenium has made a name for itself not only in the private sector, but also in the security sector. From 2019 he was Vice President of the BfV and demonstrated his great potential in various security-related positions.

In his new role as top intelligence officer, Selen has the challenge of proving himself in an environment characterized by political turbulence. His predecessors all had turbulent departures, which raises the expectations of Selen all the more. The demands on him are clear: do quiet but good work and at the same time master the integrative challenges of his background. While his Turkish origins have been criticized in the past, it is now important to put this story in a positive light. Especially at a time when failed integration often receives media attention, it is important to emphasize successful biographies like Selen's, as faz.net reports.

From students to managers

Selen's path to BfV is the result of a long and impressive career. After studying law at the University of Cologne with a focus on domestic and judicial policy as well as Europe, he began his career in the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in the State Security Department. His tasks included, among other things, personal protection for high-ranking politicians, such as the then Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. After the attempted bombings in Cologne in 2006, Selen led the search for the perpetrators and subsequently rose to various important positions within the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Between 2016 and his return to the BfV, he worked in the private sector at TUI, where he set up a group-wide security structure, including cybersecurity and crisis management. These experiences can be of great value to him in his new role. On November 13, 2024, Selen took over the interim management of the BfV and once again demonstrated his abilities in this responsible position.

Integration policy and challenges

Sinan Selen's designation as President of the BfV is a strong signal for integration policy in Germany. His story emphasizes the importance of bringing successful integrations to the fore. This not only contributes to the diversity of the institutions, but also to strengthening social cohesion. This also questions and re-evaluates the average perception of migration and integration in the political debate.

The coming months will show how Selen overcomes the challenges in his new position. Political pressure will be high, and given the mediatization of security architecture challenges, his ability to do effective security work behind the scenes is crucial. As Wikipedia notes, Selenium must now establish itself as a role model in its future-oriented role with this high responsibility.