Mask procurement scandals: The Union wants (some) control:
The Union wants to draw conclusions from the mask affair. However, according to Transparency ...
taz.de/!5752550/
Union Plans Conduct Code After Mask ScandalThe parliamentary group announces new rules, but Transparency International considers them far from sufficient.
- Ralph Brinkhaus and Alexander Dobrindt announced a conduct code and greater transparency for secondary activities on Monday.
- Paid advisory and brokerage work directly related to an area overseen by the parliamentary group is to be excluded.
- Georg Nüßlein and Nikolas Löbel allegedly received six-figure mask commissions; both left their parties, and Löbel also resigned his Bundestag seat.
- Transparency International considers the plans inadequate and calls for statutory rules or Bundestag procedures, alongside a comprehensive lobby register.
If the Union is serious about transparency and accountability, every lobbying activity by a member of parliament that brings him direct financial benefits must be prohibited in the future—and not only through an internal party code of conduct, but by a rule by law or in the Bundestag's Rules of Procedure. A comprehensive lobby register is also necessary.— Hartmut Bäumer, Chair of Transparency Germany, said in an interview with the taz about the Union's response to the mask scandal
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German centre-right political party
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How the Union wants to get rid of the mask scandal: The CDU and CSU go into forward defense in the mask scandal: but can they wipe out the blemish with it? The ...
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/masken-affaere-in-cdu-und-csu-wie-die-union-den-skandal-loswerden-will-a-2e59ed37-86de-4439-8407-da96df97d425
Only those who outlaw the Raffke mentality should become chancellor: Armin Laschet and Markus Söder have to show their attitude in the mask affair ...
tagesspiegel.de/politik/laschet-und-soeder-in-der-maskenaffaere-nur-wer-die-raffke-mentalitaet-aechtet-sollte-kanzler-werden/26989104.html
Union faction wants to find all mask dealers by Thursday: After the scandal, the Union faction is looking for more MPs with dubious deals ...
tagesspiegel.de/politik/sind-nuesslein-und-loebel-die-einzigen-unionsfraktion-will-bis-donnerstag-alle-maskendealer-ausfindig-machen/26989768.html
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Mask affair and additional income: CDU politicians collect millions: In the affair about business with corona masks, there are increasing demands for ...
handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/unionspolitiker-nach-maskenaffaere-debatte-um-nebeneinkuenfte-von-politikern/26988808.html
Paid articlePaywall
NRW: Code, criticism, control: mask deals occupy the state parliament: After the mask deals between two members of the Union in the Bundestag ...
wz.de/nrw/kodex-kritik-kontrolle-masken-deals-beschaeftigen-landtag_aid-56691415
Nüßlein and Löbel: Joachim Stamp describes mask deals as "disgusting": The NRW family minister and FDP politician criticized the Union MPs. You should donate ...
ksta.de/politik/fall-nuesslein-und-loebel-stamp-bezeichnet-masken-deals-als--widerlich--38158222
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Jens Spahn and the mask purchases: proceedings dropped: There is no "sufficient evidence for the existence of a criminal offense": The proceedings against Jens ...
zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/masken-kauf-jens-spahn-cdu-corona-verfahren-100.html
Key FactsProbe into Jens Spahn's Mask Purchases Closed
Mar 9, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zdfheute.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zdfheute.de
- The Berlin General Prosecutor’s Office discontinued the case against Jens Spahn related to mask procurement as health minister.
- No adequate indications of criminal conduct were found concerning the purchases made during the pandemic.
- More than 170 complaints filed since June 2025 were initially examined due to Spahn’s immunity but were not pursued further.
- Spahn defended his decisions despite criticism over excessive costs and potential favoritism in contract awards.
We were in a state of emergency.— Jens Spahn, former Federal Health Minister (CDU); defended the mask purchases at the start of the pandemic.
Dispute over mask affair: Salzhausen parties disagree on investigation: The SPD local association “Hohe Geest” is calling on the Federal Minister of Finance to ...
landeszeitung.de/lokales/harburg-lk/winsen-luhe/streit-um-maskenaffaere-salzhaeuser-parteien-uneins-ueber-aufarbeitung-FRR7SOHYMZHP7IER27SNZSUKJM.html
Masken-Affäre: Merz steht weiter hinter Spahn - und greift Sonderermittlerin an: Former CDU Health Minister Jens Spahn is accused of mismanagement in the ...
fr.de/politik/masken-affaere-merz-steht-weiter-hinter-spahn-und-attackiert-sonderermittlerin-zr-93826382.html
Coronavirus pandemic: Spahn calls allegations about mask procurement malicious: Jens Spahn would like his actions regarding the procurement of masks to be ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-07/corona-pandemie-maskenbeschaffung-jens-spahn
Pressure on Spahn grows over mask allegations - | Deutsches Ärzteblatt
aerzteblatt.de/news/druck-auf-spahn-wird-bei-maskenvorwurfen-grosser-719f4835-4752-4131-babd-8fa74febb262
Maischberger: "The intention of this action is obvious" - | Merz criticizes report on Spahn's mask affair
welt.de/politik/deutschland/article256334430/maischberger-intention-dieser-aktion-doch-offensichtlich-merz-kritisiert-bericht-zu-spahns-maskenaffaere.html
Jens Spahn: How dangerous is the mask report for him?: How serious are the accusations against Jens Spahn in the mask affair? An internal report provides new ...
t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/innenpolitik/id_100790654/jens-spahn-wie-gefaehrlich-ist-der-maskenbericht-fuer-ihn-.html
Jens Spahn: Housekeepers want to grill him over special mask report: After a long period of tactics, the Ministry of Health has presented its report on the mask ...
stern.de/capital/jens-spahn--haushaelter-wollen-ihn-wegen-masken-sonderbericht-grillen-35836432.html
Corona pandemic: Jens Spahn allegedly ignored expert advisors when procuring masks
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-06/corona-pandemie-jens-spahn-maskenbeschaffung-bericht
Key FactsSpahn’s Risky Mask Procurement Amid Pandemic Crisis
Jun 24, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zeit.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zeit.de
- The report reveals Jens Spahn disregarded expert advice and took sole control of mask procurement during the pandemic.
- Within weeks, contracts exceeding €11.6 billion were secured, often at fixed high prices without further negotiations.
- Significant delivery failures triggered lawsuits with potential financial risks up to €3.7 billion, threatening public budgets.
- The special investigator highlights Spahn’s lack of economic insight and preference for external consultants over internal expertise.
Many activities went to the limits of legal requirements, which raises questions in total.— Margaretha Sudhof, special investigator, in the report on mask procurement regarding the legal boundaries of activities during the Corona pandemic.
Opposition politicians call for a committee of inquiry into mask procurement - | Deutsches Ärzteblatt
aerzteblatt.de/news/oppositionspolitiker-fordern-untersuchungsausschuss-zu-maskenbeschaffung-08a8df68-9a3d-427f-9fcd-9fe6c4071f31
OpinionMask purchases in the corona era: Minister Warken wants to present a redacted report
taz.de/Maskenkaeufe-in-der-Coronazeit/!6095371/
Key FactsPartial Redaction of Mask Procurement Report
Jun 20, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: t-online.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: t-online.de
- Health Minister Nina Warken plans to present the previously confidential mask procurement investigation to the Bundestag's budget committee.
- Certain sections will be redacted due to privacy concerns involving personal employee data and corporate secrets.
- The report addresses allegations of inflated mask prices and preferential treatment of a company linked to former Minister Spahn.
- Spahn claims unfamiliarity with the report but supports its release, a stance also backed by the Green and Left parties.
I have decided to present the report to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag in the coming session week.— Nina Warken, Minister of Health, in an interview with the 'Rheinische Post'.
Jens Spahn defends mask deals on Lanz during the pandemic: “I have a clear conscience”
berliner-zeitung.de/news/jens-spahn-zu-masken-deals-in-der-pandemie-ich-habe-ein-reines-gewissen-li.2334724
“Drama in the billions” by a “Team Me”: Special investigator accuses Spahn of failing to procure masks
tagesspiegel.de/politik/drama-in-milliarden-hohe-durch-ein-team-ich-sonderermittlerin-wirft-spahn-bei-maskenversagung-versagen-vor-13859008.html
Key FactsSpahn’s Mask Scandal: Risks and Party Unity Tested
Jun 16, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesschau.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesschau.de
- The special report accuses Spahn of prioritizing personal interests over state duties during mask procurement in 2020.
- The CDU/CSU faction remains united, while opposition parties struggle to secure enough votes for an inquiry committee.
- Key figures like Söder and Wüst refrain from public criticism to avoid reopening pandemic controversies.
- Emerging evidence contradicting Spahn’s claims could severely undermine his credibility and chancellor prospects.
For me, it would currently be much easier if the report were public.— Jens Spahn, in a Sunday ARD program, stating that the review should be released to bolster his credibility.
OpinionJens Spahn's mask procurement: the problem behind the mask: The report on Jens Spahn's mask procurement should be published. However, fundamental problems stand ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-06/maskenbeschaffung-jens-spahn-margaretha-sudhof-bericht-5vor8
Paid articlePaywall Mask procurement: Warken wants to comment on the special report in the Budget Committee - | Deutsches Ärzteblatt
aerzteblatt.de/news/maskenbeschaffung-warken-will-zu-sonderbericht-im-haushaltsausschuss-stellung-nehmen-9f401438-1509-4259-b665-55e7cf567cb5
OpinionJens Spahn's mask procurement: governing coalition refuses to hold special meetings
taz.de/Jens-Spahns-Maskenbeschaffung-/!6090259/
Investigation report on mask procurement: Greens demand access to special report on Spahn
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-06/untersuchungsbericht-maskenbeschaffung-die-gruenen-veroeffentlichung-jens-spahn
Mask procurement: Report heavily implicates former Health Minister Spahn: The 170 pages show that Spahn's mask procurement allegedly caused billions in damage ...
taz.de/Maskenbeschaffung/!6093321/
Key FactsJens Spahn's Controversial Mask Procurement Exposed
Jun 7, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stern.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stern.de
- An internal report accuses Jens Spahn of granting a €1.5 billion contract to Fiege without a competitive tender.
- Spahn ignored warnings from the Interior Ministry and opposition within the government's crisis team to proceed with the deal.
- The failed procurement likely caused the federal government losses in the billions, with many masks ultimately destroyed.
- Completed in April 2025, the report has not been submitted to parliament by current Health Minister Nina Warken.
Ms. Warken wants to keep the report on mask procurement under wraps to protect Jens Spahn from the end of his political career.— Paula Piechotta, Green Party health politician, comments on the current health minister's refusal to present the report to the Bundestag.
Debate on the investigation report on mask procurement - | Deutsches Ärzteblatt
aerzteblatt.de/news/debatte-um-untersuchungsbericht-zu-maskenbeschaffung-4c3a1c63-8238-4e73-8351-2c03b16a11eb
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