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The CSU politician Georg Nüßlein in front of his Bundestag office
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
The MPs Nikolas Löbel (CDU) and Georg Nüßlein (CSU) are coming under increasing pressure in the mask affair.
Both had personally enriched themselves in the corona crisis by procuring masks.
Cross-party politicians are now calling on members of the Bundestag to resign immediately.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder recommended Löbel and Nüßlein in the ZDF's »Morgenmagazin« to resign from their mandates.
Another important signal would be to give back and donate money that has been earned with these businesses in order to clear the table “morally”.
In the CSU Presidium, they will talk on Monday afternoon about the "party consequences" that must have, added Söder.
A few years ago, the CSU set up a clear code of conduct.
This was also clearly violated.
Billions in mask business
The MPs Georg Nüßlein (CSU) and Nikolas Löbel (CDU) are said to have collected six-figure commissions for the mediation of mask shops.
Both have announced their exit from the Union parliamentary group, but want to keep their mandate, although the party and parliamentary group leaders are demanding their withdrawal.
Söder emphasized that it was good to help in the crisis, but not to make "big money".
Overall, this behavior caused great damage.
Shortly before the state elections in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, the mask affair is putting the Union under great pressure.
Group leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) does not rule out that there are more such cases in their own ranks.
According to SPIEGEL information, several parliamentarians were involved in the billion-dollar mask business.
"Stunned and pissed off"
In addition to Söder, the CDU general secretary of Baden-Württemberg, Manuel Hagel, also got involved in the debate.
He demanded the immediate resignation of the Mannheim Bundestag member Löbel from all political offices.
On the radio program SWR Aktuell, Hagel said: »I'm stunned and pissed off.
Anyone who fills their pockets in such a situation does not represent the people, but rather the lowest personal interests. «The matter must be cleared up quickly and without gaps.
Löbel had brokered purchase contracts for protective masks through his company and collected commissions of around 250,000 euros for them.
Löbel's behavior is no longer compatible with the party's attitude.
“Anyone who does something like this tramples on the values of our Christian Democracy.
In such a case, you take on political responsibility immediately and comprehensively. "
Already on Sunday the CDU federal chairman Armin Laschet, his predecessor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and CDU general secretary Paul Ziemiak called for the immediate resignation of Löbel and Nüßlein.
“Such behavior is indecent and we are ashamed,” said Ziemiak on “Bild live”.
“If you've held up your hand like that, then you've got to resign.
I am speaking for the whole party here: Both must now take the step. "
Green leader Robert Habeck said the affair does not only affect the two MPs alone.
Neither party is immune to personal missteps in individual cases.
But in the case of the Union, a lot points to "that it is a structural and systematic problem," said Habeck of the dpa news agency.
"This reveals a crude understanding of power among the CDU and CSU that damages trust in the integrity of democratic institutions," said Habeck.
The entire process would have to be processed systematically.
It was not done with indignant words alone.
Lindner wants independent special investigators
FDP boss Christian Lindner brings an independent special investigator into play, who is supposed to work up the procedure for the procurement of respiratory masks.
You also have to look at what "happened on the other side of the procurement process, in other words in the ministries," says Lindner, according to the RTL / NTV broadcasting group.
"The CDU / CSU would certainly be well advised to demand a special investigator who, with special powers and access to files, creates transparency and clarity as an independent personality." This could be a process that could be completed well before the federal election, Lindner is quoted as saying .
Union parliamentary group leader Brinkhaus promised clarification: "We will use the next few days to clarify all doubtful cases accordingly, because we also believe that we are guilty," said Brinkhaus on Sunday evening on ARD.
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mrc / dpa