The Green Party Demands Unredacted Release of Mask Procurement Report: A Call for Transparency Amidst Alleged Mismanagement
Scandalous behaviour revealed: Refusal to disclose findings on masks acquisition investigations
In the midst of a contentious political landscape, the Green Party is demanding immediate publication of an internal investigation report concerning mask procurement during the tenure of former Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU). The party condemns the withholding of this report by the current Minister, Nina Warken (CDU), calling it a "scandalous" tactic.
Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party faction leader, voiced her concern to the news agency AFP, stating, "The special report on mask procurement must be submitted to the parliament immediately, completely, and unredacted." This fervent request stems from the belief that billions of taxpayer dollars might have been squandered during mask procurement, the potential implications for the federal budget and taxpayers being more severe than those incurred by the car toll scandal under the former Minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer (CSU).
The Green Party emphasizes the necessity of clarifying the responsibility for actions taken during mask procurement during the coronavirus pandemic. Particularly pertinent is the clarification of the responsibility for decisions and contract awards made by former Health Minister Jens Spahn himself.
Reports by NDR, WDR, and "Süddeutsche Zeitung" suggest that Spahn, the Health Minister during the pandemic until the end of 2021, is heavily implicated in the 170-page report by the special commissioner Margaretha Sudhoff, who was appointed by the former Federal Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
Accusations specifically directed against Spahn involve the awarding of a 1.5 billion euro mask procurement contract to the logistics company Fiege, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, without a competitive bidding process. Despite the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for logistics matters, cautioning Spahn against commissioning Fiege, as reported in the "Süddeutschen Zeitung," Spahn disregarded these warnings and any objections within the government's corona crisis team.
The procurement project ultimately failed, leading to a suspected billion-dollar loss for the federal government, with many of the masks later being destroyed. The accusations also extend to the procurement of protective clothing and disinfectants. The Sudhoff report has been in the possession of the media since April 2025, yet it has yet to be made public.
The ongoing saga surrounding mask procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of public scrutiny, transparency, and ethical standards in government procurement processes. The Greens' persistent demands could unveil potential mismanagement or irregularities in the procurement process and holding responsible parties accountable, ensuring such issues are avoided in future crises.
- The Green Party, in the midst of their call for transparency, has expressed concern about the 'policy and legislation' surrounding the mask procurement process during the pandemic, specifically mentioning the alleged mismanagement under former Health Minister Jens Spahn.
- In the realm of 'science', the potential impact of mismanagement in mask procurement could have significant 'health-and-wellness' implications for the public, as well as potential financial ramifications for the federal budget, echoing the severity of the car toll scandal.
- The Greens are urging for a thorough examination of the 'community policy' and 'employment policy' within the Health Ministry during the pandemic, focusing on the responsibility of decisions made by former Health Minister Jens Spahn and any potential conflicts with other government departments, such as the Federal Ministry of the Interior, regarding the procurement process.
