Nach Niederlagen in Maskenprozessen: Bund hinterlegt 790 Millionen Euro aus unbekanntem Konto

Following defeats in mask procurement lawsuits: Federal government deposits €790 million from previously undisclosed account. The legal fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues to place a massive burden on German taxpayers. After a series of significant court defeats, the Federal Ministry of Health has now had to freeze enormous sums. A total of approximately €790 million has been deposited as security to avert threatened enforcement proceedings by impatient mask suppliers. Intriguingly, the nearly €800 million comes from a special account of the Federal Finance Administration that was previously completely unknown to the public. This account was specifically set up as an "advance payment account for legal proceedings" in connection with the procurement of protective equipment at that time. This information comes from a response by the Ministry to the Green Party parliamentary group, which has been obtained by the business magazine Capital. In the spring of 2020, under then-Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), the Federal Government launched a so-called open-house procurement program, in which FFP2 masks were purchased at a fixed unit price of €4.50 net. The process turned into a disaster, as far more contracts were concluded than expected, and the federal government later refused to accept delivery and make payments. The Higher Regional Court of Cologne subsequently ordered the federal government, in the second instance, to pay the retailers sums in the tens and hundreds of millions of euros. To prevent direct seizure of assets by the winning parties, the ministry had to deposit these millions in at least twelve separate proceedings. Should the federal government ultimately prevail in the next instances, the money will be returned to the state; otherwise, the taxpayers' money will be lost forever. #taxpayermoneywaste #politicalscandal #corona #federalgovernment #news