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Last week, the Bundestag lifted the immunity of CSU politician Georg Nüßlein: the 51-year-old is under investigation, among other things, due to the initial suspicion of bribery and bribery of elected officials in connection with the purchase of crown respirators. Now the politician has reacted.
According to the lawyer, the politician was involved in the request for FFP2 masks by public authorities through his own consultancy almost a year ago. Nüßlein established “various contacts between federal procurement offices and potential contractors.” Through his consulting company, he made it possible to ship FFP2 masks to Germany. According to the letter, he was not involved in decisions regarding the launch of mask deliveries or in contract negotiations. The process did not affect his work as a member of Parliament.
Nüßlein assumes that the investigation will take longer
The lawyer stated that “due to the complex issue of a connection with abroad,” Nüßlein “does not expect the prosecution’s investigations to be concluded in the next few weeks.” The investigation is a considerable burden on the politician’s family and his party, which is why Nüßlein has now decided to withdraw.
The CSU politician wants to fulfill his Bundestag term in the Bundestag elections in September. In addition to Nüßlein, there is a second defendant in the process. The attorney general did not provide further details.
Spahn on the acquisition of masks: “It was times of the Wild West”
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) declined to comment in detail on the case, referring to ongoing investigations on Friday, before Nüßlein made his statement. However, he noted that masks were generally difficult to come by last spring. “Those were times of the Wild West,” said the minister.
According to information from SPIEGEL, there are now investigations into the Nüßlein affair in Liechtenstein. It should be the suspicion of money laundering. In addition to the Federal Ministry of Health, the CSU politician has also organized transactions with FFP2 masks for the federal police. “Business Insider” magazine reported Thursday that Nüßlein had sent an invoice to a Liechtenstein company to conceal a possible bribe.
Now there are accusations against other EU MEPs in connection with the acquisition of protective masks, including Nikolas Löbel. According to information from SPIEGEL, the CDU politician is said to have collected a total of 250,000 euros in commission. Other CDU deputies are said to have advertised mask companies or suppliers. However, with the exception of Löbel, they deny receiving anything in return. He described his commission as “in line with the market.”
The left calls for a ban on paid lobbying
“New revelations about dubious new business from union politicians in the context of the acquisition of respiratory masks are worrying,” said SPD member of the Bundestag Matthias Bartke. “Now we must resolutely counter the impression that members of the Bundestag could be bought out,” he continued. For this, there must be a comprehensive reform of the transparency rules for members of the Bundestag.
Left-wing parliamentary leader Jan Korte also called for a ban on lobbying activities paid for by MPs. “Lubricated parliamentarians are infinitely harmful to democracy and politics,” he said.
After a long struggle, the coalition agreed to a lobbying registry, but put more extensive regulations on hold for the time being.
Union members criticize fellow party members
CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemiak condemned the entanglements of his fellow party members. “I find it deeply indecent that parliamentarians have gotten rich by buying masks in the worst crisis since World War II,” he wrote on Twitter. The citizens, the members of the CDU and he did not understand this.
CSU Secretary General Markus Blume told SPIEGEL of Nüßlein’s withdrawal: “This is a logical and necessary step.”
