1 in 3 feel deceived by Merkel over spying row

One in three Germans feels deceived by chancellor Angela Merkel regarding a row over spying on Germans, but almost half are not very interested in the whole affair, a poll showed.

Allegations that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, helped the US National Security Agency (NSA) spy on European companies and officials have caused rifts in Merkel’s coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and are showing signs of hurting Merkel.

Last week, media reports alleged Merkel’s aides had lied to the public before the 2013 election about the prospects of a no-spy deal with the United States. No such deal has never materialised.