The “mask affair” shakes the German political arena

Nicholas Lebel of the Christian Democrats (CDU), represented by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Georg Nislein of the CDU’s Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) scandal have announced their withdrawal from politics.

Lebel initially announced that he would resign until the end of August, but on Monday said he would resign now.

“To avoid further harm to my party, I will immediately expire my Bundestag mandate,” the politician said.

Nislein said he would like to keep his term until the end of the current parliamentary term in September, but CSU leader Marcus Zeder has called for him to resign immediately.

Both politicians have been accused of accepting six-digit rewards for contract support for the supply of face masks.

Lebel confirmed on Friday that he was involved in dealing with face masks, earning about 250,000 euros.

This case has become a hot topic ahead of Sunday’s elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The CDU and the CSU also want to make sure that nothing prevents them from winning the September Bundestag elections.

CDU leaders have said they cannot rule out other cases coming to light in connection with the scandal that has now erupted.

Zeder said that it would be right for two dishonorable politicians to return or donate the money they earned in these deals.

Leaders of other parties have also been actively involved in the discussion.

Christian Lindner, leader of the German Liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), has asked the special committee of inquiry to investigate the matter.

Robert Habek, co-chair of the German “Greens”, who has high popularity ratings, has said that these disputes point to “structural and systemic problems” in the CDU and CSU bloc.