The Greens Eye the Pandora's Box of Spahn's Mask Deals: A Scandal afoot?
Green Party Advocates for Release of Spahn's Hidden Deals Report
Get ready for a political storm! The Greens are demanding the unveiling of the dirt on Spahn's mask deals, accusing the current health minister, Nina Warken, of keeping a damning report under wraps. This investigation delves into the questionable procurement practices during the COVID-19 crisis.
Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party's faction leader, has fired a verbal grenade, criticizing Warken for withholding the internal investigation report. Haßelmann declares it nothing short of scandalous, highlighting the exorbitant taxpayer funds lost in mask procurement, which she compares to the car toll debacle of Andreas Scheuer's tenure as federal transport minister. She demands a thorough examination of the actions taken during the pandemic, emphasizing the accountability of those in power.
However, what's all the fuss about, you ask? Well, let's dive deeper into the murky waters of politics. Appointed by former health minister Karl Lauterbach, the special commissioner's 170-page report puts Jens Spahn, who served as health minister until the end of 2021, under severe scrutiny.
According to reports from NDR, WDR, and the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," the investigation implicates Spahn for awarding a hefty 1.5 billion euro mask procurement contract to the North Rhine-Westphalia-based logistics firm Fiege, despite dire warnings from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and objections within the government's crisis team. Spahn allegedly disregarded these concerns, leading to massive losses and future implications for taxpayers.
But wait, there's more! The ill-fated procurement project resulted in a billion-dollar loss to the federal government, according to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," with many masks ultimately ending up in the garbage. The controversy stretches beyond masks, encompassing the procurement of protective clothing and disinfectants as well. As of April 2025, the Sudhoff report has been in the hands of the media, but Warken, Spahn's party colleague, has yet to publish it.
As the unraveling of Spahn's mask deals intensifies, the Greens call upon Warken to come clean and deliver the report to the parliament without delay. The question on everyone's lips: Will Warken hold the line or yield to the pressure? Stay tuned as this political drama unfolds!
- Jens Spahn
- Karl Lauterbach
- Nina Warken
- COVID-19 crisis
- Face masks
- Britta Haßelmann
Political backgrounder:During the pandemic, Jens Spahn faced controversy over a system called "Open-House" he created to rapidly procure masks. This resulted in over 700 contracts with a total value surpassing the budgeted amount, leading to a surplus of masks. In June 2025, a confidential report by special investigator Margarethe Sudhof highlighted concerns about the chosen logistics firm and its ability to manage the large quantities of masks. However, there's no specific mention of Nina Warken or the Greens' demands regarding an internal investigation report in the available information. For more insights, additional sources might be necessary.
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the investigation to include policy-and-legislation and general-news related to the COVID-19 crisis, particularly focusing on the controversial mask procurement policies during former health minister Jens Spahn's tenure. Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party's faction leader, has insisted on scrutinizing the actions taken during the pandemic, considering politics and politicslessness as key factors in determining the accountability of those in power.
