Friedrich Merz’s statement about rejected asylum seekers at the dentist is not the first faux pas that the CDU leader has made. Especially on the left of the CDU, Merz’s earlier statements and actions are remembered with horror.
A chronology of missteps:
Rejected asylum seekers at the dentist
Friedrich Merz on September 27, 2023 in “Welt-Talk” on the Welt channel.
Friedrich Merz on July 23, 2023 in the “ZDF Summer Interview”.
The morning after the broadcast, he responded to the criticism, especially from his own party, via Twitter:
In mid-September, the CDU Thuringia, with votes from the AfD, pushed through a reduction in the real estate transfer tax in the state parliament – exactly with the AfD Thuringia, which has been classified as proven right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The consequences of violating the resolution so emphasized by Merz in the summer interview: none.
Merz on January 10, 2023 on ZDF with “Markus Lanz”.
After New Year’s Eve riots in Berlin, the CDU chairman pointed out integration problems in schools – and that fathers would not allow teachers to “reprimand their sons, the little pashas.” In contrast to the social tourism statement, he emphasized at the CDU convention in June: “It stays with the Pashas.”
Merz on September 26, 2022 on “Bild TV”.
Merz later admitted it was a mistake to have spoken of alleged “social tourism” in connection with Ukraine refugees.
Merz on December 6, 2001 in the “Bunten”.
This is what the CDU politician replied to the question: “Germany’s capital is ruled by a gay man. Do you think he’s as good as Mayor Klaus Wowereit?”
Until 1997, marital rape was not a criminal offense. On May 15th of that year, the Bundestag decided to change this – with a roll-call vote. This is why we know: Friedrich Merz was one of the 138 MPs who voted against criminalizing marital rape.
Further sources: ZDF summer interview, “Frankfurter Rundschau” on marital rape
