Latest news with #Spahn
Euractiv
09-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
How Germany's great conservative hope became Friedrich Merz's greatest liability
BERLIN – There was a time when the world considered Jens Spahn, the pugnacious German conservative, as his country's chancellor-in-waiting. Young, gay and provocative, Spahn shattered the mould of the stuffy, pipe-smoking, Kohl-era German conservative of yore. Even the left-leaning Guardian was enthralled, calling him in 2016 "the man who could replace Merkel". That was then. Though Spahn went on to become a minister and now holds one of the most powerful positions in German politics as leader of the Christian Democrats' parliamentary group – a post that served as a final stepping stone for both Friedrich Merz and Angela Merkel en route to the chancellery – few would put money on his prospects these days. In recent weeks, the 45-year-old former health minister has become mired in the first major scandal of Merz's chancellorship. The affair, which concerns the role Spahn played during the pandemic in doling out mask contracts, has reverberated amid a broader reckoning in Germany over how the government and health officials dealt with the pandemic. The optics are devastating. Spahn's ministry spent some €6 billion on 5.8 billion face masks – often without a competitive tender and in some cases at inflated prices. Some procurement contracts went to a company from his small Westphalian constituency, others were linked to recommendations from fellow party members. Spahn denies any wrongdoing. A Merkel critic Spahn – tall, square-jawed, and articulate – is an unusual star of the Christian Democrats' conservative wing. Having entered the German Parliament at only 22, the openly gay MP made a name for himself as a critic of Merkel's liberal migration policy during the mid-2010s. Spahn's willingness to speak truth to power – even in his own ranks – helped make the telegenic young conservative the face of the CDU's new generation. Once Spahn's rising prominence made him impossible to ignore, a reluctant Merkel relented and brought him into her cabinet in 2018 as health minister, a daunting brief that was widely seen as a test. Two years later, the once-in-a-century pandemic hit, triggering a series of fateful mistakes by Spahn that now threaten his political future. Murky mask deals Germany's National Court of Auditors concluded in 2025 that only a third of all the masks ordered under Spahn were eventually used. More than half were destroyed. Some of the orders were not accepted by the ministry due to quality issues, prompting lawsuits from suppliers. The court had already criticised Spahn's approach in 2021, but the lawmaker managed to emerge largely unscathed from the revelations until he took on his new post as the Christian Democrats' parliamentary chief. A probe commissioned by Spahn's successor, Karl Lauterbach, a Social Democrat (SPD), and authored by Margaretha Sudhof, a civil servant and fellow SPD member, surfaced in April, just weeks after Spahn took on his new role. The 170-page report, published in full in June, suggests Spahn ignored warnings from expert staff about the mask contracts. An un-redacted version of the report was recently leaked to the media and contains Sudhoff's scathing judgments on some of the deals – among them, contracts that paid €7 per mask, prices that were "difficult to comprehend." Spahn, who has since undergone a hearing in front of the budget committee, insisted he acted in good faith. 'It was a once-in-a-century crisis and an emergency situation' he said. 'In times of need, having something is more important than needing it.' He acknowledged taking financial risks to procure scarce masks and "first talking to people I knew in an emergency," but denied any impropriety. Internal calculus Years on, the mask contracts are causing a headache for Merz, even though he wasn't in government at the time. The scandal hit just as Merz's approval ratings had started to recover following a backlash over concessions he made during coalition talks. Opposition parties have been pushing for an official parliamentary inquiry, which could lead to months of damaging headlines and testimony. Parliamentary metrics, however, are likely to work in Merz's favour: The Greens and The Left, two left-wing parties, would have to work with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to reach the required quorum for setting up an inquiry – probably a bridge too far for both. The opposition would thus need support from at least eight defectors from the CDU and their coalition partners, the Social Democrats, who are nominally bound by coalition discipline. Still, the optics are damaging. The current health minister, Nina Warken, also from the CDU, first refused to publish the report. Then she published only a redacted version of the report, citing privacy concerns and lashing out at Sudhof's methodology. The latter has been a preferred line of attack of Spahn's CDU peers, who have so far unreservedly backed Spahn. The CDU's number two, General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, said on Monday that he saw "nothing new" in the unredacted version, but "subjective, personal statements about Mr Spahn by Ms Sudhof." Merz had previously criticised the Sudhof's report for failing to consult Spahn himself. Spahn's future Above all, the report puts a question mark over Spahn's credibility and political future. He had long had a sense for staying on the winning side: first opposing Merz's second bid for the party leadership in favour of the subsequent winner Armin Laschet, then switching camps when Laschet failed to win the chancellery in 2021. Spahn also shook off a previous scandal involving a loan he received from a local bank on whose board he served. Spahn and his husband used to fund the purchase of a multi-million-euro villa in Berlin, but sold it in 2023 amid a public uproar over the credit. Like that affair, the latest uproar has raised fundamental questions about Spahn's judgement and credibility. So far, Merz is sticking with Spahn. The only question is for how long. (mm)
Local Germany
03-07-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
German government scraps electricity tax cuts for households
Reducing electricity costs, for both businesses and private homes, was among the conservative Union parties' (CDU/CSU) major promises during their campaign at the start of the year. But now, as the leaders of the black-red government, along with the Social democrats (SPD), they have decided to rescind the proposed electricity tax cuts for private homes, citing budget constraints. The move can be seen as a significant early failure for Germany's federal leadership. Cutting the electricity tax quickly and "for everyone" was written into their coalition agreement. READ ALSO: Why Berlin has the highest electricity prices among Europe's capital cities Budget constraints The cabinet decided last week to initially reduce the electricity tax only for the manufacturing, agriculture and forestry industries. Cutting electricity taxes for businesses was a top item among the conservatives' plans for boosting the German economy. But to extend the tax cuts to private households, as was originally promised, has since been deemed too expensive. Doing so was expected to cost €5.4 billion in 2026. As of Wednesday, the coalition partners have failed to find financing for the household tax cuts. Germany has some of the highest electricity taxes among European countries - a fact that has been both exaggerated and weaponised by members of the far-right Alternative for Germany . Facing both reduced tax revenue and enormous expenses for defence and infrastructure revitalisation projects, the German government has hinted that savings will need to be found elsewhere. READ ALSO: Why Germany's new government is already facing a black hole in its budget Union leader defends the decision Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn told the ARD morning magazine that the coalition is "sticking to the common goal of significantly reducing electricity costs for everyone". Spahn cited plans to reduce electricity grid fees and scrap the gas storage levy from the beginning of 2026, which would be expected to reduce prices for private households. For her part, the chairwoman of the German Social Association (SoVD), Michaela Engelmeier, sees the move as a "fatal signal". READ ALSO: How Germany's electricity tariff rules have changed 'Wrong priorities' Critics of the move see it as aiding big industry players while ignoring the needs of private consumers and small business. The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) said the policy would be 'a blow to small and medium-sized enterprises.' Advertisement In a report by ZDF , the President of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce noted 'many angry calls from companies that had been counting on a reduction in electricity tax'. The news comes at a striking time, as Germany has just been hit by a severe heatwave . Climate researcher Mojib Latif accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche of having the "wrong political priorities", according to reporting by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland . An op-ed published by Spiegel argues that by relieving the gas levy but not reducing electricity costs the black-red coalition is effectively promoting the use of climate harming fossil fuels. With reporting by DPA.
DW
28-06-2025
- Health
- DW
Germany and COVID-19: What went wrong? – DW – 06/28/2025
The German parliament is seeking to assess the political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Health Minister Jens Spahn is under attack over the possible misuse of public funds. Jens Spahn, the former German health minister, faced scrutiny this week over the possible misuse of public funds in the large-scale procurement of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had to answer to questions from the budget committee over why he ordered masks at a very high price and then failed to accept or pay for them. Germany's government could face payments of some €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) to health-product manufacturers if courts rule against it in the dozens of lawsuits that have been filed over the issue. Spahn has defended his actions, though he admitted last year that he should have done things differently. The heavily redacted version of a report commissioned by Spahn's successor, Karl Lauterbach, was presented to the budget committee of the Bundestag this week. It stated that Spahn's procurement decision was made "against the advice of his specialized departments." The socialist Left Party has called for Spahn to step down from his current role as parliamentary leader of the ruling conservative bloc of Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), one of the most powerful positions in the Bundestag. "Anyone who throws our tax money out of the window so carelessly should no longer be allowed to hold an important political office," said Left Party co-leader Ines Schwerdtner. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany's governing parties — the CDU/CSU and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) — have sought to establish an inquiry commission to investigate actions taken by the government during the pandemic, including lockdowns that had a major impact on the country's economy. The Left Party had already suggested such a commission last year. "Firstly, lost trust should be regained through a serious review," read the party's motion put to the parliament. "Secondly, to gain insights and recommendations for action that will help us to deal with the pandemic in a more forward-looking, intelligent and effective way before and during a recurring pandemic situation." Among the supporters of such a commission is Hendrik Streeck, who became known as one of Germany's leading virologists during the pandemic. He went on to win a Bundestag seat for the center-right CDU in Bonn in February this year. The 47-year-old now sits on the parliamentary health committee and is also the federal commissioner for addiction and drug issues. Streeck considers it "absolutely necessary" to re-examine how the pandemic was handled, since it was the biggest health crisis since World War Two, he told DW. Streeck is hoping to get answers to the question of how scientific advice reaches the government in a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. "This is an area of tension between science, politics and the public," the virologist said. He also wants the new commission to take a critical look at the coordination between the federal and state levels of government. During the pandemic, the leaders of Germany's 16 states convened with the federal government to agree measures such as imposing complete lockdowns. Streeck doubts that this was the best framework, as it meant that the parliament was often relegated to a limited control function. Trained nurse and Left Party Bundestag member Stella Merendino, also a member of the health committee, also wants a review as the basis for lessons to learned for the future. "I experienced the pandemic in a hospital emergency room," she told DW. "I saw people die alone, while we were not allowed to let them see their relatives." The 31-year-old also saw hospital staff collapse from exhaustion and grief. "We worked through shifts without knowing whether we would stay healthy ourselves," she said. "There was no adequate protective equipment, no psychological support, hardly any recognition and, to this day, no systematic evaluation of what this meant for our staff." Merendino also believes that many people were left alone during the pandemic to cope with their economic worries, childcare, and loneliness. "This has fueled anger and mistrust that continues to this day," she said. "We don't have to convince everyone, but we have to listen. And as politicians, we must have the courage to admit mistakes." Above all, Merendino expects to ensure more support for people who are still suffering from the consequences of COVID-19. "I know nursing staff who are no longer able to work because of Long Covid. Many are fighting for recognition, for medical care, for financial security. And all this in a healthcare system that is already overburdened." Meanwhile, Streeck believes that the commission should look beyond Germany's borders for its reappraisal. "More data, more analysis would help us to get a more accurate picture," he said. He is convinced that this would help mitigate the divisions he still sees in society. Streeck says that three groups have formed: "Some who don't want to deal with it. The others who say: We were too lax, we did too little. And the third, who say: We went far too far." Everyone has to be taken seriously, says Streeck. "The best thing that can happen is to talk about it." The review commission could be set up to start its work after the summer break, in September you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
DW
25-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany updates: Berlin to end migrant rescue NGO funding – DW – 06/25/2025
The German Foreign Ministry said it would no longer fund NGOs rescuing migrants in distress at sea. Meanwhile, police launched a nationwide operation targeting people suspected of inciting hate online. DW has the latest. The German government is reportedly planning to cut all funding for groups that rescue people in distress who are migrating across the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Foreign Ministry, no money has been earmarked for migrant rescue groups in Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's new budget plans. The German government had been giving out around €2 million (around $2.3 million) per year in recent years. Already in the first half of 2025, almost €900,000 had been provided to groups such as Sea-Eye, SOS Humanity and Sant'Egidio. Sea-Eye responded to the news with sharp criticism of the new German government. "We're filling a gap in the Mediterranean that should have been closed by European states — including Germany," the group's chairman Gorden Isler said, adding that without the financing, Sea-Eye may have to stay grounded. Opposition Green lawmaker Jamila Schäfer was also critical of the decision, saying that cutting funding would not reduce migration, but just make the routes even deadlier. "We pay for a fire service to save lives on land. We should also not let people drown in the sea," she told German news agency DPA The Mediterranean is one of the deadliest migrant routes in the world, even with rescue organizations patrolling the sea. According to the Missing Migrants Project, more than 32,000 people have disappeared while trying to reach Europe since 2014. Rescues have become more difficult in recent years with Italy's far-right government passing a law severely restricting rescue operations, even as the number of people embarking on the dangerous routes continues to increase. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jens Spahn, the former German health minister, was facing scrutiny on Wednesday over the misuse of public funds during the coronavirus pandemic. A report into his billion-euro mask deals, commissioned by his successor Karl Lauterbach, found that Spahn had engaged in the large-scale procurement of masks "against the advice of his specialized departments." Ines Schwerdtner, co-leader of the opposition Left Party, has subsequently called for Spahn to step down from his current role as parliamentary leader of the co-ruling conservative bloc (CDU/CSU), one of the most powerful positions in the Bundestag. "Anyone who throws our tax money out of the window so carelessly should no longer be allowed to hold an important political office," Schwerdtner said. Spahn should "do democracy one last service and resign as parliamentary group leader this week," she added. Police in Germany have searched more than 65 properties and questioned a large number of suspects during an operation to combat onlinehate speech, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), which supervised the operation. The agency said the operation was connected with more than 140 investigations. The BKA also said some two-thirds of the online statements under criminal investigation came from radical right-wing sources. Those being probed are accused of inciting hatred, insulting politicians and using symbols of terrorist groups or organizations that are considered to be unconstitutional. In some cases, people were alleged to have rewarded or approved criminal offenses. The police operation was the 12th of its kind, with the BKA saying such offenses have surged in recent years. The German Football Federation (DFB) has received a large fine for tax evasion connected with a payment related to the 2006 World Cup, hosted in Germany. The judge in the trial, which went on for almost a decade, said the DFB had shown "high criminal energy." DW's Chuck Penfold, from our Sports department, has more: German football bosses fined over 2006 World Cup scandal Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn says it plans to extend its massive rail modernization program by four years. Railway leaders are meeting at an industry forum to "develop an adapted proposal for extending the corridor refurbishments until 2035," the company said on Wednesday. The overhaul includes major construction on more than 40 heavily used routes, following a year of record-low punctuality for long-distance trains. Key transport corridors in Germany are often dilapidated and overloaded, with delays worsened by frequent small-scale repairs targeting recurring faults. The European Union's General Court in Luxembourg has dismissed a lawsuit filed by budget airline Ryanair against German state aid granted to rival airline Condor. The case concerned €400 million (about $460 million) in loans provided by the state development bank KfW, which were approved by the European Commission in July 2021, during the COVID pandemic. Ryanair had challenged that approval, but the court said Wednesday that the Commission acted lawfully. The judges found no evidence that the aid discriminated against other airlines or violated freedom of establishment or the free provision of services. Ryanair may still appeal the decision to the European Court of Justice. The ruling follows two other cases in Luxembourg involving German support for Condor after the collapse of its former parent company Thomas Cook. In May 2022, Ryanair lost a case over a €380 million loan. In May 2024, the court annulled the approval of €321 million in restructuring aid. Condor has appealed that ruling to the European Court of Justice, where the case is still pending. Seven ducklings have been rescued from a dirt trap in a manhole in the southern city of Offenburg, the city's fire brigade said on Wednesday. Passersby alerted the fire brigade after sighting the ducklings on Monday evening. Fire personnel levered up the manhole cover to rescue the young birds, whose mother could not be found despite a search of the surrounding area. They have been taken to an animal shelter, officials said. Earlier this week, police in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate also reported rescuing several ducklings from a stream, using a bucket and rope to pull them out and over steep walls. Those ducklings were luckier in that their mother was found in a nearby pond. Former Health Minister Jens Spahn is to face questions on the German government's actions in ordering face masks at a high price during the COVID-19 pandemic and then failing to accept or pay for them. The budget committee of the German Parliament, or Bundestag, will be discussing a report by the special investigator Margaretha Sudhof, a former deputy justice minister, who was commissioned to look into the matter by Spahn's successor in the position, Karl Lauterbach. Germany's government could face payments of some €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) to health-product manufacturers if courts rule against it in dozens of lawsuits. Spahn, who now heads the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary bloc, has defended his actions, though he admitted last year that he would, with hindsight, do things differently. The CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD will also put forward a request to the parliament to establish an inquiry commission, aiming to investigate actions taken by the government during the pandemic, including lockdowns that had a major impact on the country's economy. German police have launched an operation to combat hate speech online, targeting particularly people suspected of trying to incite hostility toward particular social groups and of insulting politicians. The investigations will focus mostly on radical right-wing material posted online, along with insults to politicians at a level punishable by law. Herberl Reul, the conservative premier of the western state of North Rhine-Wesphalia, where police will also be carrying out numerous deployments as part of the operation, said, "Digital arsonists should not be able to hide behind their cellphones or computers." The operation, led by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), has been taking place annually for several years. In a statement, the BKA said police would take action in 180 cases connected with more than 140 investigations, including 65 property searches. It called on the public to report any cases of hate speech online to authorities. In May, the BKA issued figures showing that there were 10,732 hate-speech violations in 2024, an increase of some 34% over the year before. The number has even quadrupled in comparison to 2021, the BKA said. Most teachers in Germany are satisfied with their situation, and a large percentage would choose the job again, a study released on Wednesday has shown. According to the Schulbarometer report by the Robert Bosch Foundation, 84% of teachers are satisfied with their employment, 70% would take up teaching as a profession again if faced with the choice and 90% enjoy teaching at the schools where they are currently employed. The high satisfaction ratings come despite the fact that many teachers see pupil behavior as a growing challenge. The study showed that 42% of the some 1,500 teachers questioned find the conduct of pupils a "central problem," as compared with 35% a year previously. That figure went up to 52% in secondary schools that included pupils who, under Germany's complicated education system, are not intending to go on to university study. For the first time in the study, teachers were asked about their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching purposes. Here, more than 60% described such technology as having a negative impact on social and communication skills and critical thinking. More than half (55%) of teachers said they used AI tools less than once a month or never, with 41% feeling "very unconfident" about them. Despite this, 57% saw clear advantages to AI tools when used to support individual pupils in their learning goals. from the newsroom in Bonn! We are once again covering major news events in Germany, including the nationwide police operation tackling online hate speech and incitement. A new study on teacher satisfaction shows that most are pleased with their job. And Germany continues to look at the government's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10-05-2025
- Politics
Pope Leo XIV must carefully thread needle between Catholic Church's mission, US politics: Experts
In an instant, Cardinal Robert Prevost became the most powerful and influential American Catholic when he was selected to be pope and rechristened Pope Leo XIV on May 8. But with the United States' standing in the world on edge with President Donald Trump in office, experts say many will be watching the first American to lead the Catholic Church to see how he walks the tightrope between Western politics and his papal duties. Vatican experts told ABC News that Leo must thread that needle effortlessly, with a focus on leading from a global perspective. "I suspect he will be scrupulous and careful to avoid the thought that he is an American and not a Christian view," the Rev. Stephen Spahn, an assistant teaching professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland, told ABC News. "He is going to be a bridge builder and build relationships with world leaders broadly." At the same time, experts predicted Leo will not hesitate to speak out on American matters from his seat when needed. Spahn said cardinals have always come to their decisions knowing that the man who becomes pontiff will have to work within the geopolitical environment in pushing forward the Catholic Church's mission. "It's definitely going to trail him. How could it not?" he said of the pope's Americanism. "But the cardinals have said they chose him without any regard to his nationality." David Gibson, the director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University who has been in Rome all week, told ABC News that cardinals whom he spoke with do not see him as solely American, given his experience as a priest and missionary in South America. He noted Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis rarely traveled outside of their home countries when they were cardinals and that Leo's expertise on international relations will be beneficial during his tenure. "I think he does not want to be seen as an American pope," Gibson said. Both experts said Leo made a telling move when he delivered his first speech from the balcony in St. Peter's Basilica. The speech, which stressed the message of unity and building bridges, was in Italian and Spanish, and he did not publicly speak in English until his homily the next day. "He made no shoutout to his countryman. We will see more of that," Spahn said. However, experts said Leo will have to address the issues coming from his homeland at some point. Gibson said the cardinals he talked to noted that one of the decisions in Leo's selection was not Trump but the growing populist and nationalist movement sweeping the globe. "In that way, it is an irony that, frankly, the rest of the world was looking to an American as a sign of hope, as someone who can speak for them in an American register rather than act against them," he said. "They looked at him and said, 'OK, you know America, you know how to deal with this particular strong man.'" Trump, who was vocal against Francis' stance on immigration and the environment, offered congratulatory remarks to Leo after his election, saying the pope's election was a "great honor for our country." Leo has not immediately talked about the Trump administration since he was elected to the papacy. However, while he was a cardinal, he appears to have reposted articles that were critical of Vice President JD Vance and Trump's policies. Gibson said Leo will likely be more judicious with his communications, including social media posts, but will likely still have a voice in international affairs. "He will be like Francis, where he will message the Vatican's voice," he said. "[The Vatican is] certainly ready for it. They have been dealing with Trump for years. They don't get into back-and-forths. They will just make their position clear." Spahn agreed and likened Leo's relationship with American leaders to the one he has with his students. "As a professor, I want to build bridges with my students. I want to communicate that, but when they submit a paper, I'm taking out a red pen and I'm critiquing them," he said. At the same time, the Trump administration will likely maintain a friendly relationship with Leo during his "honeymoon" period as a matter of respect and to keep controversy down, Spahn argued. In one of his last actions, Francis wrote a letter to bishops that rebuked Vance's interpretation of the Latin phrase "ordo amoris." Vance contended in a Fox News interview that the idea meant that one must love his or her family first before the community and said he disagreed with Francis. Vance congratulated Leo's election on X, posting, "I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church." "I thought that the vice president's congratulatory statement was generous and warm, and from his vantage point, there is no point in picking a fight," Spahn said. Gibson and Spahn both noted that Leo has been pushing that message of building bridges since his appointment and will offer guidance with no judgment. "One thing he made clear is he keeps repeating peace," Gibson said. "Every pope tries to do that and wants to do that. But if there is an opportunity to engage with the U.S. administration in peace, he will do that. The pope's door is always open."
