Let's Dive into the Spahn Affair: Green Party Slams Health Minister Warken for Report Hidden from Parliament
Opposition party Greens accuse Health Minister Warken of mishandling public health crisis
Get the Real Scoop On Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link Investigations surrounding mask deals during the COVID-19 pandemic have stirred up a hornet's nest, with allegations against former Health Minister, Jens Spahn of the CDU. However, the current Minister, Nina Warken, is under fire for her refusal to share an internal investigation report on the matter with the Bundestag, and the Greens aren't holding back their fury.
Green Party leader, Britta Haßelmann, has demanded that Nina Warken release the special report on mask procurement immediately, without redactions. Haßelmann calls the withholding of the report "scandalous," as taxpayer money was allegedly squandered during the mask procurement process.
"This could lead to losses for the federal budget and the impacts on taxpayers could be worse than the former car toll scandal involving Andreas Scheuer of the CSU," says Haßelmann, emphasizing the need for accountability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Politics: Spahn Finds Himself in a Fix Reports from NDR, WDR, and "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ) suggest that Spahn may have a lot to answer for in the 170-page report by the special commissioner, Margaretha Sudhoff, appointed by former Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach. Spahn served as Health Minister during the pandemic until late 2021.
The allegations against Spahn mainly center on his decision to award a 1.5 billion euro mask procurement contract to North Rhine-Westphalia-based logistics company, Fiege. This choice was made without a tender, despite warnings from the Federal Ministry of the Interior about Fiege's suitability, and objections within the government's coronavirus crisis team.**
Politics: Stewards of Resources According to "Süddeutsche Zeitung," the procurement project ultimately failed, leading to a suspected billion-dollar loss for the federal government, with many masks later destroyed. The allegations also extend to the procurement of protective clothing and disinfectants. The Sudhoff report has been available to the media since April 2025, but it remains unpublished.
- Jens Spahn
- Karl Lauterbach
- Nina Warken
- COVID-19 Crisis
- Face Masks
- Britta Haßelmann
- The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the ongoing investigations to include science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and general-news aspects, given the implications of the Spahn Affair on public health during the COVID-19 crisis.
- As the Spahn Affair unfolds, the Green Party, led by Britta Haßelmann, is not only focusing on the mask deals but also advocating for transparency and accountability in all areas of health-related procurements.
- In light of the alleged mismanagement of funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for future health ministers to exhibit responsible stewardship of resources, not just in procurement of masks, but also in areas such as science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, politics, and general-news.
