Jens Spahn, the former German health minister, faced scrutiny this week over the possible misuse of public funds in the large-scale procurement of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He had to answer to questions from the budget committee over why he ordered masks at a very high price and then failed to accept or pay for them. Germany's government could face payments of some €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) to health-product manufacturers if courts rule against it in the dozens of lawsuits that have been filed over the issue.

Spahn has defended his actions, though he admitted last year that he should have done things differently.

The heavily redacted version of a report commissioned by Spahn's successor, Karl Lauterbach, was presented to the budget committee of the Bundestag this week. It stated that Spahn's procurement decision was made "against the advice of his specialized departments."

The socialist Left Party has called for Spahn to step down from his current role as parliamentary leader of the ruling conservative bloc of Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), one of the most powerful positions in the Bundestag.

"Anyone........

© Deutsche Welle