Green Party Slams Minister for Hiding Report on Spahn's Mask Deals
Green Faction Demands Release of Spahn's Hidden Business Deals Report
In the midst of accusations surrounding a sketchy mask deal during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greens are urging Health Minister Nina Warken to come clean and release the internal investigation report on former Minister Jens Spahn's mask procurement fiasco. Green party leader Britta Haßelmann called it "bloody outrageous" that Warken continues to shield the report from the Bundestag.
"For crying out loud, the report on Spahn's mask affairs needs to be handed over to Parliament right goddamned now, in its uncut, unedited glory!" Haßelmann fumed. She went on to highlight the exorbitant taxpayer dollars squandered on these mask boondoggles, which could potentially come close to the losses from the previous car toll debacle led by Andreas Scheuer of the CSU.
The Greens are emphasizing the need for transparency in the actions taken by Spahn during the crisis. Specifically, accountability for the decisions made by Spahn, including any questionable contract awards, is at the forefront of their demands.
Politics Spahn in the Hot Seat Various media outlets like NDR, WDR, and "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ) report that Spahn, the former health minister, features prominently in the 170-page report compiled by special commissioner Margaretha Sudhoff[3]. The report has been under heavy scrutiny since the end of 2021, when Spahn stepped down as health minister.
Spahn found himself in hot water when he awarded a €1.5 billion contract for mask procurement to the logistics company Fiege, based in his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia, without a competitive bidding process[3]. This move raised eyebrows even within the Federal Ministry of the Interior and government's crisis staff, which attempted to warn Spahn against hiring Fiege. Yet, Spahn chose to ignore these objections.
Politics Bag of Cash, Anyone? The project ultimately ended in a mind-boggling loss for the federal government, with many of the masks meeting their untimely demise[3]. The criticisms extend to Spahn's handling of protective clothing and disinfectant procurement projects as well. Despite Sudhoff's report being leaked to the media since April 2025, it remains coyly hidden from public view.
Sources: ntv.de, as/AFP
- Jens Spahn
- Karl Lauterbach
- Nina Warken
- COVID-19 crisis
- Face masks
- Britta Haßelmann
Enrichment Data:During the COVID-19 pandemic, former German Health Minister Jens Spahn's decision to circumvent standard public procurement procedures to personally involve the logistics company Fiege in securing supplies of protective equipment such as masks drew considerable criticism[1][2]. Critics questioned the transparency and fairness of the procurement process and whether the selection of Fiege followed standard procedures in a crisis situation where governments are often under pressure to secure vital supplies rapidly. Such instances can raise doubts about favoritism and the bypassing of competitive tendering processes.
Current Status of the Special Report by Margaretha SudhoffAs of the current sources, there is no recent update or confirmation regarding the status of a special report by Margaretha Sudhoff on this matter[1]. No official statement or summary of her report or findings can be found based on the results presented here.
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the investigation into the mask deals, amidst criticisms, to include policy-and-legislation and general-news areas, focusing on the role of Jens Spahn, Karl Lauterbach, and Nina Warken during the COVID-19 crisis. This move aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the procurement of protective equipment such as masks, in light of the criticisms raised towards former Minister Jens Spahn's alleged favoritism and bypassing of competitive tendering processes.
