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CSU politician Nüßlein: immunity as member of the Bundestag lifted
Photo: Soeren Stache / picture alliance / dpa
According to SPIEGEL information, a textile company from Hesse is involved in the alleged bribery case involving the CSU member of the Bundestag Georg Nüßlein.
The Union faction vice-president is said to have campaigned for the company at three ministries, it was about the delivery of protective clothing against the corona virus.
In addition to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Nüßlein is also said to have auditioned at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which is led by his party friend Horst Seehofer.
Two public prosecutors from the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office carried out this on Thursday morning in front of the Bundestag's immunity committee and applied for the waiver of immunity and permission to search the offices of representatives.
SPIEGEL learned this from parliamentary circles.
The investigators' request was granted.
The allegations against the CSU politician are massive.
It is both about corruption of parliamentarians and tax evasion.
Bill for 660,000 euros
Accordingly, Nüßlein is said to have issued an invoice for 660,000 euros for his mediation work at the company near Offenbach.
Presumably this money also flowed.
The investigating public prosecutor's office informed the members of the immunity committee that Nüßlein had not made an advance VAT return for the sum.
The investigators are said to have stated very firmly that the CSU health expert, who lives near Günzburg, had campaigned for the protective mask company in his capacity as a member of the Bundestag.
From this they derive the allegation of bribery of parliamentarians.
The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed to SPIEGEL that a total of 13 properties in Germany and Liechtenstein had been searched.
Evidence was secured.
Two members of the CDU were present as witnesses during the search of Nüßlein’s private apartment.
Investigators are also said to have come to the textile company for which Nüßlein is said to have worked.
So far, the company has not wanted to comment on request.
Nüßlein also did not reply to a request from SPIEGEL.
Did Nüßlein lobby Health Minister Spahn directly?
The Federal Ministry of Health, led by Jens Spahn (CDU), to which the Hessian company is said to have delivered respiratory masks in not inconsiderable quantities, justifies the purchase with the urgent need at the beginning of the pandemic in spring 2020. "Especially in the initial phase of the pandemic, there are also numerous MPs of the German Bundestag given or forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Health specific information on offers to buy personal protective equipment and other supplies and consumables, "a spokesman for Spahns told SPIEGEL.
Presumably Nüßlein turned directly to the CDU minister.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Health said: "If such offers were received by the management department of the Ministry, they were referred to the procurement staff or the federal manager for processing and processed according to the general procedural requirements." This also applies to "all of the Honorable Members." Dr.
Nüßlein forwarded offers «.
The procurement of masks by the Federal Ministry of Health has been the subject of criticism for some time.
Last spring, Spahn ordered a so-called open house procedure.
Companies were able to deliver FFP2 masks to the ministry for an impressive fixed price of a good four euros each.
Spahn often got involved in the procurement process himself.
SPIEGEL reported on the business of the Swiss company Emix, which supplied masks worth 350 million euros as part of a direct procurement by the ministry.
A daughter of the former CSU top politician Gerold Tandler had personally campaigned for Spahn.
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