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Munich (dpa) - After corruption investigations became known, the top of the CSU party and state parliamentary group increased the pressure on long-time MP Alfred Sauter.
The parliamentary group leadership is now openly threatening him with expulsion from the parliamentary group.
"On the decision of the executive board, the CSU parliamentary group examines and advises on the exclusion of Alfred Sauters," said the parliamentary group on Friday.
Specifically, the entire board of the parliamentary group will meet on Monday.
With a corresponding vote, the parliamentary group will decide on a possible exclusion on Thursday.
According to the parliamentary group's rules of procedure, a two-thirds majority is required for this.
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Following the expansion of the mask affair and the resignation of a CSU member of the Bundestag due to possible “conflicts of interest”, the CSU board will meet next Friday for a special session: “to draw the necessary conclusions,” as Secretary General Markus Blume said.
What consequences these are initially remained open.
On the agenda is a report by Blum on the compliance strategy.
The public prosecutor's office in Munich is investigating the 70-year-old Sauter because of an initial suspicion.
The investigations are related to the purchase of corona protective masks by the state.
Officials from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office searched Sauter's state parliament office on Wednesday.
Sauter denies the allegations.
“The" bribery "for my parliamentary activities, which I am accused of, is just as adventurous and constructed as the alleged reduction in taxes.
It is based on assumptions that do not apply, ”said Sauters in a statement on Thursday.
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Sauter had already announced at the beginning of the month that he had drawn up a contract with a business for the delivery of corona masks to the Bavarian Ministry of Health.
"With regard to the public allegation of a sum of money paid in addition to the lawyer's fee, it was decided from the start to use the net income remaining after deduction of all taxes for charitable purposes, which was ensured by family members and myself," he said on Thursday.
He did not elaborate on the additional amount of money involved.
Group leader Thomas Kreuzer is now giving Sauter one more opportunity in advance to provide an "opportunity for comprehensive clarification," it said.
He had asked Sauter "again in writing to plausibly and comprehensibly dispel the allegations made against him by the Public Prosecutor's Office by 12 noon on Sunday".
On Sunday, the CSU district executive in Swabia also wants to deal with the investigation against Sauter in a special session.
District chairman Markus Ferber had announced that it would also be about the possibility of initiating party proceedings.
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Within the CSU, it is expected that Sauter may explain himself beforehand.
The party leadership around Chairman Markus Söder and General Secretary Markus Blume asked Sauter to give up his party offices immediately after the corruption investigation became known.
In addition, they had threatened him, at least indirectly, with expulsion proceedings.
Among other things, Sauter is head of the CSU finance commission and district chairman in Günzburg.
A member can be expelled from the parliamentary group "if it grossly offends against the interests of the parliamentary group and thereby causes serious damage to the group's public image".
Kreuzer emphasized: "Anyone who enriches themselves in the procurement of masks and other items in a pandemic situation is seriously damaging the public image of our group and cannot remain a member of our group."
His line is clear here.
On Thursday the CSU member of the Bundestag Tobias Zech announced his withdrawal from the Bundestag because of possible "conflicts of interest".
The resignation has nothing to do with the current affair over corona protective masks.
Rather, the background is allegations of having merged mandate and entrepreneurial activities.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210319-99-894262 / 2