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A recent investigation into the procurement scandal of protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights former Health Minister and current leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in Germany, Jens Spahn. Many of the masks purchased were ultimately destroyed due to expired shelf life.
According to reports from NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, a 170-page document commissioned by former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and prepared by an independent commission led by Margarete Südhof concluded that Jens Spahn had entrusted a €1.5 billion supply and distribution contract directly to the logistics company "Fiege," based in his hometown of Münster, despite warnings from the Federal Ministry of the Interior advising against this decision.
Furthermore, ARD reported that Spahn informed the Interior Ministry only afterward and disregarded ongoing preparations by the crisis management team for a contract involving DHL and Schenker. The report, which was completed in January 2025 and officially finalized in April, has not yet been published. Current Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has refused to present it to the Bundestag. The SZ noted that the failed procurement efforts are believed to have resulted in billions in losses for the government.
“Minister Warken wants to keep the mask report hidden to protect Jens Spahn from the end of his political career,” stated Paola Piechota from the Green Party, accusing Spahn of favoring companies connected to the CDU in his home region. In the past, Spahn defended his actions by citing the urgent need for medical supplies at that time. A representative has stated that he is unaware of the report’s contents.
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