The German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) is transferring responsibility for reviewing the procurement of face masks during the tenure of former Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) to a new team. According to sources within budgetary committees, cited by the “Tagesspiegel” legal expert Lippold von Bredow will lead the newly formed working group.
Von Bredow, previously employed as a Ministerial Counselor within the Bundestag administration, held a key role leading the secretariat of the Budget Committee. This appointment has drawn criticism from the Green Party. Paula Piechotta, responsible for the health budget within her party’s parliamentary group, expressed concerns to the “Tagesspiegel” suggesting the move indicates an attempt to shield a specific agenda. She voiced apprehension that the change could be intended to obstruct a thorough investigation into the procurement process.
Piechotta emphasized von Bredow’s extensive familiarity with the Budget Committee’s procedures and underscored that his expertise would now be applied to the mask deals working group within the Federal Ministry of Health. She speculated that this change could be strategically employed to impede a comprehensive review. Notably, von Bredow’s recent reassignment involved transitioning from the Committee on Economic Affairs to lead the secretariat of the Budget Committee.