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Berlin – The traffic light coalition is demanding further clarification due to the billions of euros in risks posed by government purchases of masks at the beginning of the corona crisis. The focus of a current affairs hour in the Bundestag today was the crisis management of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and its then head, Jens Spahn (CDU).

As a result of simmering disputes over mask deliveries, lawsuits with a total value in dispute of 2.3 billion euros are currently pending in around 100 cases, as the BMG announced. These are contracts at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when masks were in short supply but urgently needed.

In order to get masks for the health care system more quickly, the ministry had used a special method, including the so-called open house procedure. This resulted in supply contracts being concluded at fixed prices without further negotiations. In many cases, the ministry later refused to pay, claiming quality defects or late delivery of the goods. Suppliers then sued.

Former Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) justified the controversial order of several billion protective masks at the beginning of the corona pandemic in the Bundestag today. “People’s lives were at stake and yes, we needed masks and yes, we procured masks,” said Spahn. “Was it expensive? Yes,” Spahn continued. “We had to make a decision in an emergency.”

Procuring masks was expensive and chaotic, but that was the case in all countries. “Yes, with the knowledge I have today I would make some decisions differently,” said the former minister. He could not recommend the procedure used at the time. He accused the Greens of being “excessive in their fury.” “They are doing the business of the corona deniers and are not even aware of it.”

The Greens had previously sharply attacked the minister. “The use of billions of taxpayers’ money for shady contracts must be investigated,” said Green Party deputy Andreas Audretsch. Spahn had also allowed the quantities of masks procured to get out of hand. “A crisis must not be a free pass for completely uncontrolled action,” he said. Audretsch spoke of “completely wild procurement procedures” and “shady contracts” between the federal government and mask manufacturers.

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Spahn guaranteed suppliers an unlimited supply of masks at a price of 4.50 euros per FFP2 mask. According to Audretsch, 5.7 billion masks were ultimately ordered. Ultimately, a large proportion of the masks were not needed. Only around 1.7 billion masks were distributed.

“Billions of euros were destroyed,” Audretsch stressed. “We are talking about one of the biggest tax waste scandals that has ever occurred in the Federal Republic.” The Green politician also spoke of a “loss of control” by the previous government. In view of the strained budget situation, “we must not and cannot close our eyes when a billion-euro scandal of this magnitude is on the table.”

Paula Piechotta (Greens), member of the Budget Committee and rapporteur for the health budget, also sees a major tax scandal. The procurement of masks exceeded the “pain threshold of the Budget Committee and the taxpayers.”

One must now ensure that one knows everything – especially about the first half of 2020. For example, she finds it incomprehensible that there is no documentation in the BMG on the contracts and that in some cases one does not even know where the signatures for contracts are.

Yesterday, after a meeting of the Budget Committee, to which Spahn was invited and appeared, Piechotta had already pointed out that, in view of the cost risks in the mask court proceedings, attempts were being made to save as much money as possible for the German taxpayer.

Spahn’s statements in the budget committee “unfortunately answered almost no questions,” she said in a statement. Little was said about the massive over-procurement and the costly direct contracts that were repeatedly awarded despite the procurement having already been stopped.

Kristine Lütke of the FDP stressed in parliament today that 2.3 billion euros is 9.5 times the amount of the motorway toll scandal caused by Andreas Scheuer (CSU). This borders on “negligence” and shows “no respect for the taxpayers’ contribution”. She spoke out in favour of an inquiry commission in the Bundestag. It is about “an honest and transparent review of the decisions that were made at the time”.

Budget politician Karsten Klein (FDP) stressed that the aim was to minimize the risks that had arisen under the CDU’s responsibility in the BMG. He also did not understand why, after a cabinet decision to stop purchasing masks, the BMG had still concluded contracts. “The debate shows that we need to work things out. An inquiry commission would be right to learn from the mistakes.”

Martin Siechert (AfD) stressed that a committee of inquiry in the Bundestag was necessary to investigate the events of the Corona period. He called for an amnesty for all those who were punished during the Corona period.

Svenja Stadler (SPD) acknowledged that there was an exceptional situation at the time. Nevertheless, the events must be dealt with. “We should learn from the corona pandemic in order to do something better at all levels and also save costs.” What makes her shake her head is the lack of documentation of the processes and contracts.

SPD politician Martina Stamm-Fibich referred to the uncertainty at the time. “In this confusing situation, procuring personal protective equipment was no easy task,” she stressed. There should therefore be no “witch hunt.” Nevertheless, it is necessary “that we critically examine what happened back then.” No one should shirk their responsibility.

CDU health politician Tino Sorge defended Spahn’s decisions. In his view, there is not a single piece of evidence against unlawful awarding of contracts. Damage would also only have occurred if the deliveries had been accepted without any problems.

It is “bizarre that scandals are being made out of things that aren’t actually scandals,” said Sorge. “This is beyond meanness and double standards.” Sorge accused the Greens of “window-dressing politics.” The Greens had spread “lateral thinking theories with a conspiratorial undertone.”

Stephan Pilsinger (CDU) stressed that everyone needed masks at the time. Great Britain ordered masks worth 18 billion euros, “we ordered them for 5.7 billion euros.” So far, the ministry has also won eight cases worth 50 million euros in court, and the plaintiff companies have only won two cases worth 0.3 million euros.

Simone Borchardt (CDU) pointed out that the SPD and the current Federal Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, had supported everything. “Nobody knew what was coming with the virus. There were no masks to buy on the market and I think it’s pathetic to now be upset about the prices being too high,” she said.

Borchardt recalled that at the time, fabric masks were even sewn for nursing staff because there were no others available. Of course, mistakes were made. But she is firmly convinced that a policy that is afraid of making mistakes makes people unable to act.

According to the Greens’ health policy spokesman, Janosch Dahmen, the coalition also wants to request a special meeting of the Health Committee. “We now need full clarification and transparency,” he said yesterday. Many questions arose: “When were which contracts signed with whom? How much money went to whom?”

Dahmen stressed: “In many areas of the health care system, there is a lack of money for important investments, while here the state could now be forced to pay billions for mask deals, some of which were never delivered, were rotten or were of inferior quality.”

The Health Committee could deal with the procurement of masks next week. © dpa/afp/may/aerzteblatt.de