Spahn, the mask controversy, Sudhof's report release, and the case of Emix's disappearance
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany's federal health minister, Jens Spahn, found himself at the centre of controversy over the procurement of protective masks. A report by special investigator Margarethe Sudhof has shed light on specific accusations of mismanagement and poor decision-making.
According to the report, Spahn initiated mass procurement of protective masks in April 2020, despite advice from his department's experts to the contrary. This procurement process involved a purchasing method with fixed high prices, without any attempts to negotiate further discounts. This strategy has led to potential multi-billion euro liabilities due to legal disputes from these contracts.
The report also highlights disputes with suppliers over undelivered or unsatisfactory mask deliveries. These disputes, coupled with the lack of clear limits on order sizes, resulted in an overwhelming number of supply contracts and a total procurement volume far exceeding the budgeted amount.
The Swiss company Emix was one of the suppliers involved in the deal. Jens Spahn ordered 100 million masks from Emix at a unit price of 5.40 euros, leading to a total cost of 540 million euros. This cost was significantly more expensive than the open house procedure.
Andrea Tandler, daughter of the former CSU politician Gernot Tandler, acted as a broker for Emix and received 48 million euros for the deal. Many of the masks delivered by Emix were reportedly defective, but the company had the opportunity to improve them three times.
The Greens, Left, and AfD have called for a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the Emix deal and other issues related to mask procurement. They argue that transparency and accountability are crucial, particularly given the financial damages that could impact public services.
Spahn, however, denies any personal financial gain from the deals and emphasizes the urgent need for protective equipment during the early pandemic phase. He asserts that decisions were made under crisis conditions and with the goal of protecting public health.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly supported Spahn, arguing that hindsight unfairly judges urgent decisions made during a crisis. Merz also criticized the investigation process for not adequately consulting Spahn.
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jens-spahn-corona-masken-affaere-mit-emix-a-38012792.html [2] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/corona-masken-emix-101.html [3] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus121497722/Coronakrise-Jens-Spahn-wird-von-CDU-gefahndet.html [4] https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2022-02/corona-masken-affaere-jens-spahn-emix-verteidigung-merz
- The controversy surrounding Germany's federal health minister, Jens Spahn, during the COVID-19 pandemic involves not only the procurement of protective masks but also allegations of poor employment policy, as specialists from his department advised against mass procurement.
- In the discussion about the Emix deal and the procurement of masks, health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, and science are crucial considerations, as the quality of the masks and the financial impact on public services are paramount.
- The political landscape in Germany is affected by the COVID-19 mask procurement controversy, with parties such as The Greens, Left, and AfD calling for a parliamentary inquiry, advocating for transparency and accountability in the midst of general news about the crisis.
