Spahn under pressure: Masking affair brings 1.5 billion euros in loss!

Spahn under pressure: Masking affair brings 1.5 billion euros in loss!

Graz, Österreich - Jens Spahn, the CDU's Bundestag parliamentary group leader and former Federal Minister of Health, has been exposed to increasing allegations for a few weeks, which affect mask procurement during the Covid 19 pandemic. The focus of the criticism is an internal report that examines past practices and decisions of the Ministry of Health under Spahn. In March 2020, Spahn commissioned the logistics company Fiege with the procurement of FFP2 masks-and without prior tender. The contract comprised services worth 1.5 billion euros, which led to a considerable financial loss for the state, since many masks had to be disposed of due to expired shelf -data. This reports t-online .

Fiege, a logistics company from Spahn's Homeland region of Münsterland, was selected as a central procurement despite the concerns of the Interior Ministry and resistances in the crisis staff. The Ministry of the Interior had favored larger logistics companies. Spahn started a so-called "open house process", which subsequently led to a flood of delivery commitments. Originally, 500 million euros were planned for purchasing, but ultimately the federal government took masks worth over five billion euros. Because of the massive problems, the report speaks of a "complete collapse of the logistics chains", including ongoing court processes with mask dealers and a serious financial minus for the state. The report is marked with "VS - only for use" and is kept under closure, which arouses further doubts about the transparency.

first allegations and current developments

critics are of the opinion that the new Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken deliberately holds back this report to protect Spahn. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach does not comment on the content of the report, which the special representative Margaretha Sudhof has created. The report, which includes 170 pages, not only questions the award decision to Fiege, but also questions about the procurement of protective clothing and disinfectants. In this context, Spahn is accused of specifically preferring companies from his home region and justifying his actions during pandemic.

fiege that is criticized to have been overwhelmed, rejected the representations of personal relationships. The report shows that administrative processes were in the area of ​​responsibility of the Interior Ministry and that Spahn only subsequently informed the ministry about the decisions. It is also criticized that existing concepts with other logistics companies, including DHL and Schenker, have been disregarded by Spahn. This has led to a massive loss of trust in the management of mask procurement.

Review and demands

The setbacks and scandals around the mask procurement throw shadows on Spahn's political career. During the pandemic, Spahn had called for a lot to forgive each other. Now many demand that he disclose all the facts and apologize personally. The pressure on him is growing, while the federal government continues to struggle with the financial and legal aftermath of these decisions. In this context, Germany can be found in a debate about transparency, responsibility and the political consequences of historical decisions.

The political and legal consequences of this affair remain to be seen, which are of great relevance with regard to the current social challenges and political currents. The mask scandal is not only a challenge for Spahn, but also for the entire political landscape of Germany, which has to face the challenges of the future.