The public prosecutor's office is investigating suspected corruption against CSU politician Georg Nüßlein.
According to a media report, Jens Spahn could also be involved in the case.
The Bundestag member Georg Nüßlein is being investigated for corruption.
A new report suggests that Jens Spahn was also informed about the mask deal.
Previously, the former Bavarian Justice Minister Alfred Sauter had already admitted a connection.
In this case, the opposition demands complete clarification and stricter rules for the future.
Berlin - Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn could have been informed about the controversial mask deals in the Georg Nüßlein case.
That is what a
Business Insider
report
suggests.
Nüßlein allegedly had talks with an official of the Ministry of Health (BMG) about the controversial face mask deals with Spahn's approval.
This is based on internal documents, it said.
The CSU politician from the Neu-Ulm district is suspected of having brokered contacts with various ministries on behalf of a manufacturer of respiratory masks.
He is said to have received around 660,000 euros.
The public prosecutor's office in Munich is now investigating the initial suspicion of bribery of mandate holders *.
Nüßlein is therefore currently resting his office as vice-president of the Union parliamentary group.
+
Georg Nüßlein goes to his office while it is being searched.
His immunity had previously been lifted.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
Nüßlein affair: Internal emails suggest a connection to Health Minister Jens Spahn
According to
Business Insider,
Nüßlein is said to
have listed the exact numbers of the masks delivered in an email to a BMG department head and to have addressed the defects found.
In the mail it says, obviously with a view to Jens Spahn *: “JS said I should discuss this with you.
But it should be settled soon. ”It was a suggestion that the contract concluded with the company in question only had to be partially fulfilled.
According to
Business Insider,
a ministry spokesman said
: "The Federal Minister of Health basically forwards all inquiries that he receives about concluded contracts to the specialist level for processing - also in the Nüßlein case." has not yet been fully settled because of ongoing negotiations on quality issues, ”the ministry continued to explain.
Corruption scandal: A former Bavarian Minister of Justice is also involved
It was previously known that the former Bavarian Justice Minister Alfred Sauter (CSU) also has a connection to the case.
The prominent politician confirmed research by the
Augsburger Allgemeine
, according to which, as a lawyer, he had drafted a contract between the Bavarian Ministry of Health and the mask supplier.
For this he received a legal fee.
“As a member of parliament, I was never involved in this matter”.
The order to draw up the contract did not come from the ministry, Sauter told the newspaper.
He never received any money from the public purse for it, only from the supplier.
After the scandal became known last week, the top of the Union in the Bundestag * now expects a prompt statement from Georg Nüßlein.
He expects that Nüßlein will speak out in the next few days, said Union faction leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) on Tuesday.
"I think that some things will hopefully be cleared up."
The group supported the prosecutor's investigation.
His CSU * colleague Alexander Dobrindt said it was appropriate that Nüßlein now had time to sort out the situation.
When this happened, Nüßlein would inform the regional group and the parliamentary group.
Enrichment in the corona crisis?
Opposition demands stricter rules
The opposition sees it much more critically.
“What is now coming to light, bit by bit, destroys trust.
Trust in democracy and those who represent it, ”said SPD * parliamentary group vice-president Katja Mast to
Business Inside
r.
The fact that Haus Spahn is now also appearing in this case shows that there are more questions than answers - and that is bad.
"People rightly expect that everything will be fully clarified and that the necessary consequences will follow." Left and Greens are now calling for consequences and more transparency and the fight against corruption. *
"Never again should the impression be given that MPs use their contacts to stuff their pockets - especially in an emergency like this," said Jan Korte, parliamentary manager of the Left Group, to the
Tagesspiegel
.
"In addition to the long overdue legal lobby register, we need stricter rules on stock options, industry information, reporting obligations for company investments and the publication of additional income in euros and cents," said Britta Haßelmann, parliamentary manager of the Greens *, the newspaper.
(mam with dpa / AFP) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
