Instead of taking a clear stance on digital violence, Friedrich Merz brings migration into play – triggering a storm of criticism in politics and social media.
German politics is experiencing turbulent days in many respects. It has to deal with a war in Iran, and the state elections in Baden-Württemberg also caused a stir at the domestic level. Now she is confronted with another issue: digital violence against women. Collien Fernandes recently made allegations against her ex-husband Christian Ulmen public. He is said to have created and distributed fake sexual content about her for years – this is digital sexual violence against women. Germany is a country where the law against this form of abuse makes it very easy for perpetrators. The case sparked demonstrations, and now calls for tightening the laws are becoming louder within politicians. Now Chancellor Friedrich Merz also commented for the first time.
Questionable statements in the Bundestag
Since the allegations against Christian Ulmen became public and the debate about digital sexual violence broke out, one thing has been heard above all from Germany’s most powerful man, Friedrich Merz: silence. Now Green MP Lena Gumnior wanted to know from the Chancellor why he had not yet commented on the debate, while women in particular were speaking out publicly on the topic.
Friedrich Merz responded to this in a questionable way. So he said that men would discuss the topic: “And I’m one of them.” Then came the first irritating statement: He turned to the MP with the words “I don’t know how long you’ve been in the Bundestag,” and then explained how some time ago, as opposition leader, he helped pass a law that tightened the legal situation surrounding digital violence. It gave the impression that he was explaining the world to a child – a murmur went through the hall.
Shortly afterwards, the politician went one better and brought the topic of migration into the debate. According to the Chancellor, violence comes primarily from immigrants: “We have an exploding level of violence in our society, both in the analogue and digital space. And then we also have to address the fact that a considerable part of this violence comes from the groups of immigrants to the Federal Republic of Germany.” The conservative chancellor quickly changed the fact that the potential perpetrator was a white German and directed the topic to migration.
Criticism from politics and social media
According to the 70-year-old’s statements, the criticism didn’t take long to arrive. Votes from the political ranks came primarily from the Green Party. The Green MP Robin Wagener called out to the Chancellor immediately after his statements: “As a man, I am ashamed of how little empathy and clear determination you express in the face of the blatant, sexualized violence.”
Another reaction from the Greens came from MP Lamya Kaddor on How strong does he want to make the AfD?!”
The Chancellor was also sharply criticized outside of politics. The criminal and family law specialist Christina Clemm wrote on Bluesky: “You must hate women very much if you don’t stop for a moment in the current discussion, think about sexism and sexual violence, reflect on your own role, but instead use it for your own racist agenda. And you are sure that you will receive recognition for it.”
Author and actress Jasmina Kuhnke also found clear words in an Instagram post: “In Germany, as a white German Christian, Stefan or Michael, you can inflict violence on a racialized woman – but you will still use this as an opportunity to blame Ali, Sekou and Mohammed!”
It remains to be seen how the Chancellor will react to the wave of criticism and whether he will initiate a tightening of the law in the near future.
