Controversy surrounds the Minister, as the State Secretary announces their illness
In the political landscape of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Interior Minister Christian Pegel finds himself at the centre of a series of scandals and controversies.
The most recent allegation involves Wolfgang Schmülling, the State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, and Andreas Walus, the acting head of the State Office for Central Police Tasks, Fire, and Disaster Protection. The state prosecutor accuses Schmülling and Walus of embezzlement or aiding and abetting it in connection with the procurement and accounting of COVID-19 protective equipment.
The accusation states that Walus procured protective equipment for the counties of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 2020 but never billed the counties for it, resulting in a potential loss of around half a million euros for the state. Schmülling, on the other hand, is accused of failing to process the matter, causing claims totaling 430,000 euros to become statute-barred.
Pegel emphasized that the presumption of innocence applies in the ongoing investigations against Schmülling and Walus. He also stated that a disciplinary procedure will be initiated and that the ministry is cooperating fully with the competent investigating authorities.
This is not the first time Pegel has been embroiled in controversy. The climate protection foundation, equipped with Russian funds and still unresolved dissolution, is another ongoing scandal he has been involved in. There have also been accusations of favouritism and friendship services, with promotions not based on performance but on party affiliation.
The opposition CDU, led by Daniel Peters, has been particularly critical, demanding the resignations of Pegel and Schmülling following the Interior Committee meeting. The AfD faction leader in the state parliament, Nikolaus Kramer, has also joined the chorus, calling for the minister's resignation.
However, not all political factions share this view. Michael Nötzel from the Left faction stated that there is no scandal to be seen, while Constanze Oehlrich from the Greens called for clarification if there has been damage of around half a million euros for the state through inaction.
Pegel, a long-serving cabinet member, has a history of weathering and mediating crises. The sudden sinking of the A20 motorway in the peat bog at Tribsees in 2017 and the years-long back-and-forth regarding its reconstruction are examples of crises he has mediated.
Despite the ongoing investigations and political scrutiny, Pegel attended the Interior Committee meeting behind closed doors. The LPBK MV authority announced on Wednesday that they are accused of the aforementioned offenses, and the state prosecutor's office in Schwerin searched the offices of Schmülling and Walus.
As the investigations continue, the future of both Schmülling and Walus, and by extension Pegel, remains uncertain. The SPD politician stated that no further substantive details could be provided at this time due to the ongoing procedure. The state's Minister President, Manuela Schwesig, refused to comment on the incidents when asked by media.
In the face of these allegations, Pegel's reputation as a minister with crisis and scandal experience may be tested like never before.
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