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Vice-FDP parliamentary group Michael Theurer
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / picture alliance / dpa
The public and internal party pressure had become too great: After massive criticism, the CDU member of the Bundestag Nikolas Löbel has given back his mandate.
The politician brokered purchase contracts for protective masks through his company and collected commissions of around 250,000 euros for them.
Initially, Löbel had planned to continue exercising the mandate after leaving the Union parliamentary group.
This is how Georg Nüßlein wants to do it: After resigning from the post of deputy parliamentary group leader and saying goodbye to the parliamentary group, he wants to remain in parliament - although the party leadership is also pushing for his immediate resignation from the mandate.
The CSU politician is being investigated because of the initial suspicion of corruption in connection with the purchase of masks.
Both have since left their parties, but beyond the Löbel and Nüßlein cases, the scandal is likely to keep the Union busy.
According to SPIEGEL information, several parliamentarians were involved in the billion-dollar mask business.
It is currently unclear whether further cases of this scope will be made public.
Is there a threat of a loss of confidence in politics?
In the corruption perception index of the anti-corruption organization Transparency International, Germany ranks 9th out of 180 countries.
The organization is still calling for better rules for party funding and lobbying.
In any case, the opposition is pressing for a quick clarification, possibly with a committee of inquiry.
The topic even unites the left and the FDP.
"Above all, the Union chairmen should set their members of the Bundestag a clear deadline that everything has to be on the table within 48 hours," said Left Party leader
Susanne Hennig-Wellsow
to SPIEGEL.
However, this does not replace the comprehensive investigation into the failure of the federal government in the pandemic.
“A committee of inquiry is the right instrument for this.
After being voted out, the work-up comes, "said the left boss.
A special investigator appointed by the committee is also an option.
"A special investigator could help to clarify quickly what really happened around the mask deals in the Union faction," said Hennig-Wellsow.
The FDP parliamentary group vice-president
Michael Theurer
sees it similarly
.
In the interview he says what options a committee of inquiry offers, what questions need to be clarified - and what he expects from the Chancellor in the mask affair.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Theurer, in view of the Nüßlein and Löbel cases, you are calling for the federal government to set up a committee of inquiry into masks procurement.
What are you hoping for?
Theurer:
The question arises as to how the government failed in the supply of protective masks and what circumstances this led to, in which at least two Union MPs conducted dubious mediation transactions.
The behavior of these MEPs undermines confidence in parliamentary democracy.
That is why Parliament must have the greatest interest in clearing up the matter, including the question of whether our legal situation is sufficient to prevent such cases.
With a committee of inquiry, the real question is no longer whether it is necessary, but when it comes.
SPIEGEL:
Nikolas Löbel collected 250,000 euros with his mask deals, apparently legally.
Theurer
: That is exactly the question.
But how can that be possible?
It is part of parliamentary life to stand up for the interests of citizens and companies.
There is nothing wrong with that.
But those who collect commissions for this use their office to their own advantage.
In any case, citizens therefore have a right to know what exactly happened.
SPIEGEL:
What specific question do you have?
Theurer:
If agency commissions were paid to MPs in connection with the procurement of masks, I would like to know who the MPs had to contact in the federal government.
What information and access did he get?
What role did Jens Spahn play in this?
After all, the Ministry of Health was responsible for handling the mask business.
SPIEGEL:
You have been calling for a committee of inquiry into the procurement of masks for months.
Why has nothing happened so far?
Theurer:
Already in spring 2020 there were difficulties in Germany in the supply of protective equipment, especially masks.
The federal government's list of mistakes is now long.
From the slow digitization in the health authorities, the faulty travel return management, the vaccination disaster and the long time missing test strategy.
SPIEGEL:
What speaks against a committee of inquiry?
Theurer:
It is questionable whether such a committee can shed light on all the failings of the federal government in relation to the pandemic in this legislature.
We only have a few months until the new Bundestag is elected.
If we weren't finished by the end of the legislative period, the new Bundestag would have to start over.
The goal should be to at least come to an intermediate result.
That is why I advocate starting the educational work immediately.
SPIEGEL:
What possibilities would there be for acceleration?
Theurer:
A committee of inquiry could form the basis for appointing a special investigator, as we did in the Wirecard committee of inquiry into the secret service involvement of the former Wirecard chief financial officer Jan Marsalek.
That could speed up the investigation.
SPIEGEL:
What do you expect from the German government?
Theurer:
We need broad support for parliamentary clarification.
It would therefore make sense if the Union and, above all, the SPD would support a committee of inquiry.
Trust in politics plays a special role in the pandemic.
The scandal surrounding the CDU MPs is grist to the mill of the people who spread conspiracy myths that the whole policy of pandemic policy acts in its own interest.
We all suspect that this could only be the tip of the iceberg.
The Chancellor must now deliver a speech to the nation in order to avoid an impending loss of confidence.
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