German Parliament to discuss row over substandard face masks

Berlin, June 9 (IANS) A row between the parties that make up Germanys governing coalition about the use of substandard face masks will be discussed in Parliament on Wednesday.

Lawmakers will look at accusations made against Health Minister Jens Spahn, who is from Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democrats (CDU).

It has claimed that the Health Ministry earmarked masks, which were ordered in China and which were not tested according to high standards, for people with disabilities or for the homeless, dpa reported.

The plan was abandoned after Labour Ministry - which is headed by the Social Democrats (SPD), also in the coalition - intervened.

The SPD and opposition parties criticized Spahn after news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the government had been looking for a use for uncertified face masks left over from orders placed during the first wave of infections in 2020.

Spahn was forced to stand his ground on the issue on Monday, but also pointed the finger at the Labour Ministry, led by Hubertus Heil.

Spahn said earlier this week that the masks had been checked for their ability to protect from infection - but he conceded that they had not received EU approval.