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Berlin (dpa) - The head of the Union faction has given the members of the CDU and CSU in the mask affair a deadline of Friday evening to submit a kind of declaration of honor.
Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) and CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt called on the almost 250 Union parliamentarians on Wednesday to declare by March 12th, 6:00 p.m., that they had not achieved any financial benefits in connection with the fight against the corona pandemic - neither directly nor through companies.
"The misconduct of individuals must not put an entire parliamentary group in a bad light," Brinkhaus and Dobrindt justified the action.
The SPD and left-wing factions did not mention self-declarations and appeals sufficiently.
The FDP welcomed the action of the Union parliamentary group top and warned against a prejudice of the entire Union.
But she also demanded that the role of Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) also had to be dealt with.
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Brinkhaus and Dobrindt write in the mail that is also available to the German Press Agency that because of the events surrounding the members of the parliament, Georg Nüßlein (previously CSU) and Nikolas Löbel (previously CDU), they see themselves as being responsible, “such matters are complete to present and explain transparently ».
The public prosecutor's office is investigating Nüßlein because of the initial suspicion of bribery.
Löbel has admitted that his company has received commissions of around 250,000 euros for brokering sales contracts for corona protective masks.
The public prosecutor's office checks whether there is sufficient initial suspicion to initiate investigative proceedings.
Both politicians have since left their respective parties.
Löbel resigned from the Bundestag with immediate effect.
Nüßlein no longer wants to run for the Bundestag in the autumn.
The top of the Union faction lists in its email specifically which activities are involved in the declaration.
Financial advantages must therefore not have been obtained from trading in medical products such as protective equipment, testing and vaccination requirements, or from arranging contacts or forwarding offers or inquiries.
Support or advice to third parties in such activities is also mentioned.
In general, the point “Connection with combating the COVID-19 pandemic” is mentioned.
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The reply mail should be given the place, date and signature to go to the parliamentary manager of the Union parliamentary group, Michael Grosse-Brömer.
The MEPs' attention is drawn to the fact that the statements "can also be used as a response to press inquiries".
If parliamentary group members cannot make the declaration, they are asked to contact Grosse-Brömer or his CSU colleague Stefan Müller directly.
Brinkhaus and Dobrindt emphasize in the mail that as members of parliament you stand up for citizens and local companies, especially when it comes to fighting pandemics.
"This commitment in the sense of concrete improvements for the people is in no way objectionable, but an original part of the fulfillment of the task as a member of parliament."
They add: "It is just as clear, however, that performing this task must not result in any personal or financial benefits."
As a member of parliament, you see yourself as having a special responsibility for the common good.
This is especially true in a crisis like the current corona pandemic. "
The parliamentary group had announced strict new rules for the Union MPs on Monday.
"As a parliamentary group, we will give ourselves a code of conduct that goes well beyond what is legally expected of members of the German Bundestag," wrote Brinkhaus and Dobrindt to the members of the Union.
There should also be more transparency for secondary activities and a sharply reduced limit for the obligation to publish donations (currently 10,000 euros).
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The deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Katja Mast criticized that self-commitments and self-declarations are too few.
«These declarations must also be made public.
Otherwise they are worthless. "
Mast renewed the SPD's call for structural changes and an even better lobby register.
FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing welcomed the processing of the mask affair by the Union parliamentary group.
However, this must involve the Federal Ministry of Health and the person of Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
Otherwise there is a risk of a further loss of confidence in democracy and state institutions.
At the same time he emphasized: "The misconduct of individual members of the Union does not justify any prejudice of the party as a whole."
The parliamentary manager of the Left Group, Jan Korte, criticized: "Appeals and admonitions will not solve the problem."
The only way to "solve this problem that threatens democracy is to prohibit paid lobbying by MPs".
The left calls on the other groups to quickly find a common solution.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210310-99-767982 / 3