Overview

• Klüssendorf said that the SPD will pursue a full, expedited clarification of the pandemic mask procurement and has not ruled out establishing a formal parliamentary investigative committee.
• Former Health Minister Jens Spahn defended his handling of €1.5 billion no-bid mask contracts in a Bundestag debate, acknowledging overpurchase but framing it as a necessary crisis response.
• Spahn proposed routing scrutiny through a planned Enquete Commission on the pandemic rather than a parliamentary inquiry panel.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Sudhof’s methodology for breaching due-process by not allowing Spahn to comment before finalizing her classified report.
• Margaretha Sudhof’s unredacted report alleges that purchase guarantees drove up mask prices and caused taxpayers losses exceeding €1 billion.