Merkel, Laschet and Söder Under Pressure German Conservatives’ Tide of Misdemeanours

FIG 1: Merkel, Laschet and Söder under pressure German conservatives’ tide of misdemeanours

Parliamentarian Position Allegation Action

Axel Fischer Member of Bundestag, CDU Allegedly received money from Parliamentary immunity lifted, Mar Azerbaijan in exchange for voting 2021. Investigation continuing at for pro-Azerbaijani motions and Munich state attorney office. resolutions. Fischer rejected the allegations as false.

Mark Hauptmann Ex-Member of Bundestag, CDU Alleged irregular lobbying Resigned from Bundestag Mar assistance for Azerbaijan. 2021.

Hans-Jürgen Irmer Member of Bundestag, CDU Alleged use of influence to procure Denies wrongdoing. mask order for Hesse firm for Berlin health ministry. Possible compensation from placing of advertisement in a newspaper run by Irmer.

Armin Laschet North Rhine-Westphalia prime Laschet’s son Johannes allegedly Order cancelled Dec 2020 because minister, CDU chairman, Member helped organise uncontested (non- of doubts procedures. New tender of NRW parliament tendered) Nov 2020 procurement organised. Van Laack takes part from Van Laack textile firm (for in tender, in Mar 2021 announces which he worked as a model) of action for damages if order not 1.25m masks with NRW logo for confirmed. NRW police force.

Nikolas Löbel Ex-Member of Bundestag, CDU Admits receiving €250,000 Resigned from Bundestag Mar commission for procuring Chinese 2021, with immediate effect, will masks for Baden-Württemberg leave politics. firm in April 2020, using parliamentary connections

Georg Nüßlein Member of Bundestag, CSU, Alleged non-tax payment on Denies wrongdoing. Munich ex-deputy chair, CDU/CSU parlia- receipt of €660,000 commission state attorney conducting formal mentary grouping via a Liechtenstein bank account investigations. Resigned from from offshore Caribbean firm for CDU/CSU grouping Mar 2021. procuring protective masks for Bavarian government and Berlin health ministry.

Alfred Sauter Member of Bavarian parliament, ex Alleged receipt of €1.2m as Resigned from local party Bavarian justice minister, CSU commission from mask contract chairmanship in Günzburg, with Bavarian government and resigned from Bavarian CSU other authorities. parliamentray grouping. Denies allegations as ‘adverturous’

Jens Spahn Health minister, Met dozen party donors in Leipzig TV interview 20 Oct 2020 Member of Bundestag, CDU. Armin for private fund-raising dinner, 20 pointing to infection threat from Laschet running-mate for Jan Oct 2020, defying pandemic rules unauthorised gatherings. Spahn 2021 CDU chairmanship election on household gatherings. Spahn parliamentary office confirms tested Covid-positive 21 Oct. ‘private dinner’, claims rules upheld, declines to give names of attendees/funders.

Spahn and husband Daniel Funke Denies receiving favourable purchased €4m villa in summer conditions. Takes legal action to 2020 in prosperous Berlin suburb prevent journalists from probing of Dahlen, allegedly with loan from details of purchase from official Westmünsterland savings bank Berlin registration agency. where Spahn was supervisory board member in 2009-15.

Media company Burda sold masks Burda confirms transaction but worth €570,000 to Berlin health said it ‘didn’t earns a cent’ since the ministry in April 2020. Funke works masks were sold at cost as part of in Berlin as head of Burda Berlin general Covid assistance. Funke office. No suspicion of any financial was not informed about the deal. wrongdoing.

Karin Strenz Member of Bundestag, CDU Alleged receipt of payments from Denies wrongdoing. Investigation Azerbaijan for parliamentary by Frankfurt state attorney office influence since 2020. Died on 21 Mar on return flight from Cuba after a private journey.

Klaus-Peter Willsch Member of Bundestag, CDU Celebrated 60th birthday in Feb Admits ‘didn’t set a good example’ 2021 with home party, allegedly but denies breaking any rules. breaking rules on isolation. No suspicion of any financial wrongdoing.

Thomas Zech Member of Bundestag, CSU (2013- Carried out public relations and Announced resignation from 17), returned 2020. consulting work in 2016 for former parliament on 18.3.21. Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, later found guilty of corruption.