It is as if there was no possibility of a solution, he told Bild. It is a great shame that Germany has allowed the country to become so isolated. But the scandal has raised fears that some in his circle are trying to play down what they say is an elaborate cover-up. Asked about his role at the time of the leaks, Kircher, who was chancellor from 2003 to 2011, said: No, no, not a couple of months ago before the scandal got real. I was an Austrian national in the first place. I never said it was an elaborate scheme or an elaborate operation, he said.