Scathing Criticism for Jens Spahn as Mask Procurement Investigation Report Released
Political figure Spahn needs some time away from political affairs
A damaging report on mask procurement during the pandemic has sparked fierce criticism of former German Health Minister Jens Spahn, leading to calls for him to step away from politics. The Left Party is leading the charge, accusing Spahn ofrecklessly wasting billions in taxpayer money and favoring CDU-linked companies.
In the heat of the pandemic, Jens Spahn, then the Health Minister, is under fire for his handling of a 1.5 billion euro mask procurement contract awarded to the logistics company Fiege, based in his home region. Critics argue that the contract was given without proper competition and despite warnings against choosing Fiege from within the government’s Crisis Team. The company ultimately failed to efficiently manage the mask distribution, leading to an estimated billion-euro loss when the unusable or low-quality masks were destroyed.
The investigation report, led by special investigator Margarethe Sudhoff and commissioned by Spahn’s successor, Karl Lauterbach, reveals these issues and places a heavy burden on Spahn's decisions during the pandemic. The report is currently in the hands of the government, and opposition parties like the Greens have demanded its full disclosure.
The Green Party budget policy spokeswoman, Paula Piechotta, expressed her frustration, stating, "Spahn and Warken continue to say only the bare minimum, while Germany's taxpayers continue to lose billions due to Spahn's mask deals."
In response to the criticism, the Union has defended Spahn, stating that quick and pragmatic action took priority over usual procedures during the crisis. However, the SPD member Sudhof, also questions Spahn's actions during the pandemic, casting doubt on his ability to act impartially as Union faction leader.
As the controversy continues to swirl, left-leaning parties call for Spahn's removal from politics and demand accountability and transparency. Jens Spahn, for his part, has acknowledged mistakes but denies intentional wrongdoing.
The Left Party intensifies its criticism towards Jens Spahn, accusing him of favoring CDU-linked companies during the mask procurement process and wasting billions in taxpayer money, as per the policy-and-legislation scrutiny. In the general-news arena, Jens Spahn faces calls for his departure from politics due to his controversial handling of a 1.5 billion euro mask procurement contract.
