As head of the CDU’s parliamentary group in the early 2000s, when he was vying for the party’s leadership, he kept a close eye on how the press portrayed him. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on the continent. Two recent instances concerned the legality of referring to individual politicians in the far-right Alternative for Germany as fascists and anti-Semites. They face their moment of truth at an online-only party congress on Saturday. In contrast to Merkel’s centrist approach to politics, Merz has long cultivated a straight-arrow, law-and-order image. Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA . He said that he and many of his colleagues voted against the legislation because they wanted the new law to include language to allow victims to withdraw charges against their spouses. In the letter, Merz’s lawyer threatened to sue POLITICO if it didn’t refrain from making the claim and demanded that the publisher pay Merz’s legal fees. Merz has been turning his lawyers on reporters for decades. २.४ हजार जनाले मन पराउनुभयो. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers in Europe. The most prominent such cases to come to light recently have involved the political fringe. Merz, a wealthy corporate lawyer who has been involved in German politics for more than three decades, has a long history of such tactics. Friedrich Merz, candidate for the presidency of Germany's Christian Democratic Union | Pool photo by Filip Singer/AFP via Getty Images, Campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. Weitere Informationen darüber, wie wir Ihre Daten nutzen, finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklärung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Bio Vizepräsident des Wirtschaftsrates der CDU e.V. Friedrich Merz held a press conference this week that electrified the Berlin political establishment. Merz’s objections to his critics’ characterizations have ranged from the serious to the mundane. Wir Frauen für Friedrich Merz - gemeinsam den Aufbruch wagen. German political journalism is a competitive field and many of the journalists covering German politics avoid a critical approach for fear it could cost them access or an interview with a prominent political figure like Merz. (They’ve done so at least 120 times, according to the Kaiser’s great-grandson.). The news that the Frankfurt court shot down Merz’s attempt to silence De Masi over the rape legislation received little attention outside of left-wing media, for example. His recent targets have included a leader of Germany’s Left party and POLITICO. Commit to customers and colleagues. And this week, #WirFrauengegenMerz — “We women against Merz” — was trending on German Twitter. Merz’s lawyers eventually managed to have the site taken down, only to see it sprout up again as fotzenfritz.tk, which has also since been suspended. The Friedrich Merz Guest Professorship, endowed in December of 1985 on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the eponymous company founder, is one of the oldest chairs for visiting professors at Frankfurt’s Goethe University. German politician Friedrich Merz says he now "regrets" comments made when asked whether he would have reservations about the appointment of a gay chancellor. 18 talking about this. In-depth reporting, data and actionable intelligence for policy professionals – all in one place. Daten über Ihr Gerät und Ihre Internetverbindung, darunter Ihre IP-Adresse, Such- und Browsingaktivität bei Ihrer Nutzung der Websites und Apps von Verizon Media. That’s a big problem if Merz is to have any hope of succeeding Merkel. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on German politics. Friedrich Merz wird Kanzler, das ist klar. Merz insisted that he never opposed criminalizing rape in marriage, arguing that it was already a crime under the existing assault laws of the time. Just ask his lawyers. “Our buddy always wore his hair the way he does today,” Ernst Ferdinand, Merz’s boyhood comrade, wrote in a letter to Die Zeit. But they are making distinctly different pitches to lead the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). By logging in, you confirm acceptance of our POLITICO Privacy Policy. The purpose of the Guest Professorship is to appoint an especially well-reputed scientist from … “Jurisprudence, to become a judge, a lawyer, is a great thing,” he said with a wide grin. Klicken Sie hier, um weitere Informationen zu unseren Partnern zu erhalten. De Masi, whose original tweet was liked 17,000 times, called the court’s action “a cold shower” for Merz in his bid to become chancellor. Nonetheless, aside from cases involving alleged violations of privacy, it is extremely rare in Germany for politicians, particularly those aspiring to high office, to confront critics with cease-and-desist demands, let alone a lawsuit. EU ARMY plans could be given the green light as Angela Merkel's possible successor, Friedrich Merz, argued national armies are no longer needed while strongly advocating for more European integration. In 1967, Germany’s highest court had ruled that wives had a “duty to engage in intercourse,” and many conservatives argued that the proposed law would undermine the institution of marriage. Such ready acquiescence probably explains why Merz hasn’t shied from wielding legal threats. Merz threatened the magazine and another publication that picked up on the story with legal action for “offending his honor.” They removed the articles from their websites. Merz subsequently withdrew his complaint. In Germany, such cases are often not made public, making it difficult to determine how many legal threats and lawsuits Merz has initiated over the years. In late 2000, he gave an interview to Berlin daily Tagesspiegel in which he claimed to have been a wild, long-haired teenager, driving a motorcycle, listening to The Doors, and smoking and drinking at 14. Our company was founded in Frankfurt, Germany by a 24-year old chemist named Friedrich Merz, and we are proud to still be owned today by the fourth-generation of the Merz family. As pictures of refugees living in inhumane conditions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece drew headlines early this month, for example, Merz said he would oppose bringing any of them to Germany, adding that Berlin needed to do a better job deporting refugees whose asylum applications were revoked. Friedrich Merz, the German conservative vying to become the next chancellor, doesn’t take kindly to criticism. In mid-December, the Frankfurt court refused, informing Merz that his underlying complaint had “no chance of success.” The court also disputed Merz’s assertion that German law effectively criminalized rape in marriage prior to 1997. On December 6, Fabio De Masi, deputy leader of the Left party’s parliamentary group in the Bundestag, sent a tweet that accused Merz of “voting against criminalizing rape in marriage.” The tweet was a reference to landmark rape legislation debated for 25 years and passed in 1997, when Merz was an MP. After sending De Masi a cease-and-desist demand, which the MP declined to comply with, Merz asked a court in Frankfurt to issue an injunction against De Masi to prevent him from making the claim. Campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the U.K. What’s driving the day in Paris, en français, The weekly digest of the best stories in U.K. politics. Not long after the Fotzenfritz affair, Merz faced a fresh provocation. “We wanted to have a good relations with all politicians and that was the end of it,” explained Helmut Brandstätter, who was n-tv’s editor-in-chief at the time. Google+. Reporters who traveled to Merz’s hometown of Brilon in Germany’s Sauerland region couldn’t find anyone to back up his claims. Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer, or AKK as she … Last week, the CDU’s women’s association, known as the Frauen Union, endorsed Merz’s rivals in the leadership race. Latest news, analysis and comment on elections in Europe and beyond. The Friedrich Merz Guest Professorship. The Friedrich Merz Guest Professorship was founded in December 1985 in honor of the 100th birthday of the Merz company founder, Friedrich Merz, who, as one of the first members of the Senckenbergische Gesellschaft, had close ties with the University of Frankfurt and was a patron of science. Free Instagram Followers Wir unterstützen mit voller Überzeugung Friedrich Merz bei der Bewerbung um den Parteivorsitz! Doch auf Twitter formiert sich Widerstand: Der Hashtag #WirFrauenGegenMerz wird zum Trend. Others can’t afford the legal bills. Merz’s decision to go after De Masi may have less to do with the MP’s tweet than Merz’s difficult standing among women, however. Pinterest. But the Fotzenfritz moniker stuck. Here is a crazy thought, Friedrich Merz told a gathering of voters last week. We support Merz´s culture of innovation by empowering employees, rewarding risk-taking and encouraging personal accountability. People who have worked closely with Merz over the years, both during his time as an MP and during his more recent tenure as a business lobbyist, say there’s a more basic reason for the candidate’s litigious streak — he has difficulty coping with criticism. Twitter. Germany is a litigious society and Merz is both a lawyer and a former judge. ... Last week, the CDU’s women’s association, known as the Frauen Union, endorsed Merz’s rivals in the leadership race. “Titanic used the opportunity and legal complaint to continue the Fotzenfritz campaign,” said Martin Sonneborn, Titanic’s then-editor who is now an MEP for the Die Partei, a satirical German political party. In her nearly 16 years as chancellor, for example, Merkel — arguably the most attacked politician in Germany — isn’t known to have sought legal recourse even once. Friedrich Merz, 62, who has been selling himself as the man who can save Germany from political and economic stagnation, and is seen as the most likely to … Press play to listen to this article. He once even threatened a television news channel with legal action after it broadcast a clip of him sleeping in parliament. Sie können Ihre Auswahl jederzeit ändern, indem Sie Ihre Datenschutzeinstellungen aufrufen. Hier twittern Friedrich Merz (FM) und sein Team (tm) Lokasyon Deutschland Tweets 859 Followers 132,3K Following 481 Account created 05-11-2018 10:43:23 ID 1059395748289232896. After the article appeared, however, one of Merz’s closest friends from his youth denied the account. Thin-skinned lawyer who wants to succeed Merkel has a history of going after his critics. Sie können 'Einstellungen verwalten' auswählen, um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Auswahl zu verwalten. Merz did not respond to requests for comment about how often he has sent his lawyers after journalists and political rivals. Not that the setback is likely to dampen Merz’s enthusiasm for taking his critics to court. Merz is a former leader of the CDU’s parliamentary group who was sidelined by Merkel in 2002 and seven years later quit the Bundestag to pursue a career in business. That may help explain a cease-and-desist demand a Merz lawyer sent to POLITICO in early December regarding an article about the politician that appeared under the headline “Meet the German Donald Trump.”. 1,388 talking about this. “This country has to sit in the driver’s seat to bring the EU forward in terms of growth and prosperity,” Merz said Thursday at a Chatham House event in Berlin. Armin Laschet, Friedrich Merz and Norbert Röttgen are all white, male baby boomers from the same state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The Hohenzollern clan, the family of the former German Kaiser, is also known for turning to the courts to correct what they consider to be “lies” about them in the press. Friedrich Merz, the German conservative vying to become the next chancellor, doesn’t take kindly to criticism. With the race to become the next leader of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats about to reach its conclusion in a virtual party conference on Saturday, Merz — a leading contender for the job — has pursued a behind-the-scenes offensive against some of his critics, threatening journalists with legal action and asking a court to muzzle a political rival over a tweet. Friedrich Merz. The eerily similar backgrounds of three of the politicians hoping to succeed Angela Merkel speak to the continued under-representation of women at … Of particular annoyance to Merz most recently has been the portrayal of his stance on rape in marriage. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on French politics. BERLIN — Friedrich Merz, a leading candidate to replace Angela Merkel as leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats, called on Berlin to play a more active role in shaping the EU’s future. Merz’s complaint did not take issue with the underlying thesis of the piece (that Merz’s anti-establishment political strategy bears a striking resemblance to Trump’s), but focused instead on the article’s assertion that he had “declined requests for comment.” His lawyer argued that while Merz had refused several requests for an interview, the politician had not specifically declined to comment on the content of the article. A prominent figure in German politics at the turn of the century, Merz all but left the public eye after losing out to Merkel for the CDU’s leadership, only to return in late 2018 after she announced her departure. Friedrich Merz, the German conservative vying to become the next chancellor, doesn’t take kindly to criticism. Though neither of the other politicians featured in the clip complained, n-tv agreed to stop airing it. Philip Oltermann in … Just ask his lawyers. Indeed, German media are reluctant to even report on such cases. In all our work, both with customers and colleagues, we build lasting relationships based on trust, respect and integrity. The CDU general secretary narrowly beat Friedrich Merz, a millionaire lawyer, in a run-off vote in Hamburg. Merz has been a successful specialty healthcare company for more than 110 years. Merz responded that children should learn “how beautiful” the legal profession is. Log in to access content and manage your profile. As the leadership vote slated for Saturday approaches, Merz has struggled to find an answer. T he pretender came out fighting on Wednesday night at the most important hustings in the race to succeed Angela Merkel. 210 talking about this. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. Friedrich Merz wird Kanzler, das ist klar. WhatsApp. If you do not have a login you can register here. Defending against such cases can cost thousands of euros, a financial risk many publishers aren’t willing to take. And this week, #WirFrauengegenMerz — “We women against Merz” — was trending on German Twitter. Why not give half of Germany’s €50bn budget surplus back to the people as a radical tax cut? Supporters of the 1997 bill, including Merkel, argued at the time that such a provision would make it too easy for husbands to pressure their wives into backing down and it passed without the so-called “reconciliation clause.”. Durch Klicken auf "Alle akzeptieren" stimmen Sie zu, dass Verizon Media und unsere Partner Informationen durch die Nutzung von Cookies und ähnlichen Technologien auf Ihrem Gerät speichern und/oder darauf zugreifen und Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten, um personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte anzuzeigen, für die Messungen von Werbung und Inhalten, für Informationen zu Zielgruppen und zur Produktentwicklung. Hier schreiben und kommentieren Friedrich Merz (FM) und sein Team (tm). The aim of the law was to lift barriers for wives seeking protection from their husbands. Latest news, analysis and comment on migration in Europe and beyond. Merz wasn’t amused and threatened to sue. POLITICO refused, dismissing Merz’s claims via its own lawyers as “baseless.”. Latest news, analysis and comment on security in Europe and beyond. “We later donated the fotzenfritz.tk URL, symbolically, to Merz as a joke.”. Explore the live extension of our journalism, The wonk's survival guide to the EU Green Deal, April 19 — Rewriting the Transatlantic Tech Playbook, April 20 — The coming shakeup of the EU Emissions Trading System, May 18 — POLITICO Virtual Interview: In Conversation With Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, POLITICO Pro workshop – The German elections, Paris probes luxury dinner party claims amid COVID curbs, EU Confidential Special: Stephen Brown — An audio appreciation, UK race report follows the Boris Johnson line, European Commission refers Poland to EU’s top court over rule of law. Friedrich Merz was sacked by Merkel as the leader of the CDU’s parliamentary group in 2002. Friedrich Merz befindet sich im Endspurt um den CDU-Vorsitz. Friedrich Merz, one of the frontrunners in the race to succeed Angela Merkel as leader of her party, has admitted he earns "around one million euros" a year, days after claiming to be middle class. Titanic, a German satirical magazine, picked up the story, embellishing Merz’s account of his supposedly rebellious youth and dubbing him “Fotzenfritz” (“pussy-hound Fritz”). In a recent appearance on TikTok, Merz was asked what kids should be taught in school. Pranksters registered the domain name fotzenfritz.de, redirecting traffic to Merz’s official site. Ever since Merz launched a political comeback, polls have consistently shown that women, both within the CDU and outside it, are not drawn to his brand of conservatism. German news channel n-tv ran a tongue-in-cheek promotional clip showing several MPs, including Merz, sleeping in parliament.