Is There a New Twist in Spahn's Credibility: The Mask Saga Resurfaces
By Volker Petersen
After purchase of costly masks, does Spahn's portability remain intact?
After weeks of relative calm, Jens Spahn, the former Health Minister, is once again at the heart of controversy. This time, it’s over the controversial mask procurement during the initial months of the Corona pandemic. The flames of criticism are fanned by a new report, which paints Spahn as an ambitious careerist who put personal ambition over the interests of the state. But that's just half the story.
Following Spahn's departure as Health Minister, he expressed, "We will have to forgive each other a lot." This statement seems to hold a prophetic ring as Spahn is now under the microscope once more.
The trigger for this renewed scrutiny is the leaked report by Margaretha Sudhof, a special investigator commissioned by Spahn's successor, Karl Lauterbach. Although the report is currently under lock and key, media outlets such as Der Spiegel and the research network of NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung have referred to it.
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According to Sudhof, a lack of economic understanding combined with political ambition led Spahn to act as "Team Me," rather than "Team State," initiating a "drama in billions."
During the pandemic, Spahn ensured the purchase of masks valued at six billion euros. Two-thirds of these masks were never used, and suppliers delivered unusable masks, leaving the government in a position to dispute the bills. This dispute is still ongoing and could cost the state and taxpayers several hundred million euros.
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There are more questions surrounding Spahn’s actions, such as the commissioning of logistics giant Fiege, headquartered in Spahn's neighboring constituency, and the subsequent "collapse of supply chains." Fiege was preferred over better-equipped competitors like DHL and Schenker, leading some to question if Spahn was using his position to benefit a local company.
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The record-keeping during this period was chaotic, with WhatsApp being used for communication, and messages not being archived. Spahn also frequently used his email account as a member of parliament, rather than his Ministry account, which wasArchived. This has raised concerns that Spahn was trying to cover his tracks.
Spahn, now a joint parliamentary group leader of CDU and CSU in the Bundestag, admits mistakes but denies any improper conduct. He defends the high costs, stating that incoming finances were flooded during the crisis to reduce health and life risks.
The full details of the Sudhof report have yet to be revealed, leaving many questions unanswered. Whether Spahn has acted with ethical responsibility remains a topic of debate, as the situation was unprecedented and chaotic. The future will tell if Spahn's actions were indeed justified or if there is more to the seemingly unconventional procurement methods he employed during the early days of the pandemic.
References:- ntv.de- Frankfurter Allgemeine- Tagesspiegel- Süddeutsche Zeitung- Der Spiegel
Keywords:- Jens Spahn- Corona crisis- Mask mandate- Face masks- CDU- Karl Lauterbach- Nina Warken- SPD- Fiege- Logistics- WhatsApp- Emails- Financial risks- Scandal- Procurement process- Open-house procedure- Germany-ovp_cabinet_8156456
- In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding Jens Spahn's actions during the Corona pandemic, questions have arisen about his employment policies, particularly in the context of the mask procurement process, which is reminiscent of a general-news situation.
- The leaked report by Margaretha Sudhof, the special investigator, suggests that Spahn's actions were driven by political ambition, aligning him more with "Team Me" rather than "Team State," a scenario that echoes a potential twist in a community policy narrative.
