Corona pandemic - Controversy in the Bundestag over expensive mask purchases
Threatening billions of risks for the Bund due to mask purchases at the beginning of the Corona crisis have caused a controversy in the Bundestag. The traffic light coalition demanded further clarification. "The use of billions of euros for shady contracts must be investigated," said Greens fraction vice-president Andreas Audretsch. He spoke of "one of the greatest tax fraud scandals." The then health minister Jens Spahn (CDU) justified the action of 2020: "We had to make decisions in an emergency." He particularly criticized the Greens for unfounded accusations.
FDP financial policy politician Karsten Klein said it was now about minimizing risks from an oversupply, which had arisen under the CDU's responsibility. "For us, it's about learning for the future." That's why a commission of inquiry is needed. SPD health expert Heike Baehrens said it needed to be clarified, for example, whether lax rules led to gold digging and invited themselves to enrich themselves. "That's self-evident." However, the presumption of innocence should be maintained until the investigations are completed.
Approximately 100 cases with a total claim of around 2.3 billion euros have been filed due to disputes over mask deliveries, as the Federal Health Ministry reported. This concerns contracts at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when masks were in short supply but urgently needed. In order to get masks faster for the health system, the ministry had applied for a special procedure. As a result, delivery contracts were concluded without further negotiations at fixed prices. Later, the department refused to pay and cited quality issues. Suppliers then filed lawsuits.
Spahn: "It was about human lives"
Speakers of the Union came to the defense of the then minister. Spahn spoke at the end of the debate. He reminded of the first Corona wave in the spring of 2020. The largest exporter China suddenly stopped exporting. "It was about human lives," said Spahn. The mask procurement was expensive and chaotic, it went the same way for all countries. "Yes, with the knowledge we have today, I would make some decisions differently." The procedure of that time he could not recommend. He accused the Greens of being "hysterical in their frenzy" and not even aware of it. "They are making the business of Corona deniers."
Spahn said they had acted according to the motto: "Having is better than needing." The current Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also involved as Finance Minister and had rightly made the money available, for which he was grateful. "Do you really think the health minister can dispose of these sums alone?" asked Spahn. He had also dealt with the topic in detail in the budget committee.
Masks, which were delivered in poor quality back then, were not accepted, explained Spahn. On the contrary, suppliers complained, what about their good right was it. "Were we supposed to pay two billion euros for masks of poor quality? That would have been damage to the taxpayer." Spahn emphasized that one should work through the pandemic. He wished that this would not end up in petty party politics and be as broadly carried out as the Corona politics were.
The 'Mask affair' has sparked a significant 'controversy' in the German 'Bundestag', with the 'traffic light coalition' demanding further clarification. The 'FDP' has advocated for minimizing risks from an oversupply, emphasizing the need for 'learning for the future'. The 'SPD' has raised concerns about potential 'gold digging' and self-enrichment, while maintaining the 'presumption of innocence' until investigations are completed.
Approximately 100 cases with a total claim of around 2.3 billion euros have emerged due to disputes over 'mask deliveries'. These cases stem from contracts concluded at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when 'masks were in short supply but urgently needed'. 'Lax rules' and fixed prices were cited as reasons for these contracts, leading to quality issues and subsequent lawsuits.
Former health minister 'Jens Spahn' (CDU) defended his actions, stating that it was 'about human lives'. He criticized the 'Greens' for their 'unfounded accusations' and accused them of becoming 'Corona deniers' in their 'hysterical frenzy'. Spahn also highlighted the involvement of the current Chancellor 'Olaf Scholz' as Finance Minister, who 'rightly made the money available'.
'Andreas Audretsch', Vice-President of the 'Greens' fraction, has described the situation as one of the 'greatest tax fraud scandals'. He has called for a 'commission of inquiry' to investigate the 'billion-euro risk' and 'minimize risks from an oversupply'. The 'CDU' has argued for 'learning for the future' and the need to focus on 'crisis management'.
The 'Berlin' Corona crisis management has been under scrutiny, with 'Covid-19' and 'Corona' becoming focal points of debate. The 'Coronavirus' pandemic has presented challenges worldwide, and Germany is no exception. The 'health' sector has been at the forefront of these challenges, with 'diseases' and 'traffic light coalition' politics playing a significant role in the current 'crisis management' landscape.
