Political crisis in MV: Investigations against State Secretary Schmülling!

Political crisis in MV: Investigations against State Secretary Schmülling!

The political mood is simmering in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and for good reason. Interior State Secretary Wolfgang Schmülling (SPD) is currently at the center of an investigation by the Schwerin public prosecutor's office, which revolves around the procurement and billing of Corona protective equipment. Northern Courier reports that Schmülling recently promoted Andreas Walus, the former police director, to senior police director. This decision caused resistance within the police leadership and the opposition, so Walus ultimately withdrew his promotion.

To make matters worse, there were raids on Schmülling and Walus' offices, which further inflamed the situation. Schmülling is accused of abetting an embezzlement of 430,000 euros because Walus apparently procured corona protective equipment for some districts in 2020 but did not issue the corresponding invoices. The fact that Schmülling did not draw attention to the risks of a statute of limitations adds to the explosiveness of the case. The searches took place independently of Walus' promotion, about which Minister Christian Pegel was only informed after his return from the USA on September 10, 2025. He only became aware of the ongoing investigation on September 17th.

Political reactions followed immediately. The Ombudsman Christian Frenzel has called for clarification of the incident, while the CDU opposition is calling for the resignation of Schmülling and Interior Minister Pegel and criticizing the Interior Ministry as chaotic. Loud NDR Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Schmülling and Walus, but were suspended until the end of the criminal proceedings. The Interior Ministry, on the other hand, emphasizes the presumption of innocence and announced that it will work with the public prosecutor's office.

What does this say about the current political landscape? These incidents cast a shadow over the emotional state within the SPD and the general ability to supervise during the pandemic. In addition, similar problems to those experienced by the Greens at the federal level seem to indicate regional inertia. N TV reports on investigations against the Green Federal Executive Board because of controversial special payments that were paid out as part of the pandemic. Here it seems as if a dilemma in the party's financial handling could become a major issue across many regional and federal levels.

It remains exciting to see whether and how these political turbulences will influence the future shape of the political landscape in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and beyond. The road to enlightenment is long, but citizens rightly expect transparency and accountability from their elected representatives.