Leading German opposition lawmakers are demanding the resignation of former health minister Jens Spahn from his top parliamentary post over misuse of public funds during the coronavirus crisis in relation to deals for masks, reported dpa.
Spahn, from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was due to appear in front of a parliamentary committee on Wednesday to answer questions about his actions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Anyone who throws our tax money out of the window so carelessly should no longer be allowed to hold an important political office," said Ines Schwerdtner, leader of The Left.
Spahn – now the leader of the CDU's bloc with the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) in parliament – organized shady billion-euro deals against the advice of his experts, said Schwerdtner, whose hard-left group is a successor to the former governing party of East Germany.
The former health minister should "do democracy one last service and resign as parliamentary group leader this week," she stated.
The comments came after a damning report by a special investigator commissioned by Spahn's successor Karl Lauterbach found Spahn embarked on the procurement of protective masks on a large scale "against the advice of his specialized departments."
According to the report, the state was exposed to risks running into billions of euros, even though experienced authorities were available to handle the procurement.
The Greens are also seeking answers over "misuse of power in office," lawmaker Janosch Dahmen said.
- Ex German health minister
- Mask deals
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
