Unveiling the Controversy: Green Party's Call for Release of Report on Mask Procurement Fiasco
Green Party Insists on Unveiling Mask Procurement Investigation Findings - Green Group Presses for Public Release of Mask Procurement Investigation Report
Let's get real, folks. The Green Party's pulling no punches, accusing the federal budget of a potential massive hit due to the botched mask procurement scheme. And if you're thinking that sounds familiar, you're right - it's reminiscent of the Pkw-Maut drama spearheaded by the ex-Transport Minister, Andreas Scheuer.
Billions in taxpayer money went up in smoke with this mask business, according to Haßelmann, which ain't good news for the public pocketbook. The trouble could be even more substantial than the Pkw-Maut fiasco, the Green Party's parliamentary leader insists.
What's the hubbub about, you ask? Well, it's all about the responsibilitiesshouldered by the former Health Minister, Jens Spahn, during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in contract awards and decisions related to mask procurement.
According to recent reports from trusted sources like NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the 170-page report by special commissioner Margaretha Sudhoff, appointed by the former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), leaves Spahn in hot water. Oh, and just so you know, Spahn held the Health Minister role until late 2021.
The critiques mainly focus on Spahn awarding a whopping 1.5 billion euros contract to the logistics company Fiege from his home state, North Rhine-Westphalia, without any tender. It's worth mentioning that the Federal Ministry of the Interior, tasked with logistics issues, had previously cautioned Spahn against commissioning Fiege due to concerns raised before the award, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung. The government's coronavirus crisis team had such concerns too, but Spahn vetoed them.
That fumbled procurement project ended up costing the federal government a billion euros, Süddeutsche Zeitung reports. Many of the masks later found their way to the garbage heap. The claims also extend to the procurement of protective clothing and disinfectants. The Sudhoff report, which media outlets have accessed since April 2025, remains unpublished.
Sources:
- "Confidential report on COVID-19 mask procurement deepens accusations against Jens Spahn," AFP, Sunday, - Reports indicate that a confidential report by special investigator Margarethe Sudhof, parts of which were seen by media in June 2025, strengthens accusations against Spahn regarding the logistics of mask distribution. The distribution firm tasked with handling the masks may have been chosen without competitive bidding, and ultimately struggled to manage the high volume of masks provided.
- The Green Party's accusations of a potential massive financial impact on the federal budget, due to the mask procurement scandal, echo concerns raised during the Pkw-Maut drama, a previous political controversy.
- The controversial mask procurement process, during the coronavirus pandemic, has been a topic of interest for various media outlets, including NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing a 170-page report by special commissioner Margaretha Sudhoff.
- The unpublished Sudhoff report alleges that the former Health Minister, Jens Spahn, awarded a significant contract to a logistics company without tender, which could have implications for science, medical-conditions, and health-and-wellness policy, and potentially even politics and general news.
