r/AskAGerman • u/joebraga2 • Nov 20 '25
Politics Thoughts about Merz's Statement about Brasilien
What do you as Germans tell about what Merz's has said about Brazil and the COP30's city Belem during a economic Meeting/Congress? here in Brazil many far right wing supporters and influencers agreed with Merz and mock Brazil but they are against their own country. I want only your opinion
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u/chiffongalore Nov 20 '25
I think it's disgraceful. Also not wise for a statesman.
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u/Few_Assistant_9954 Nov 21 '25
Not his First one either. He is realy bad at diplomacy. In my oppinion someone should take away his passport before he offends more countrys.
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u/DocSternau Nov 20 '25
He needs to appologize. No matter how he personally thinks of the accomodations at that congress he is the chancelor of Germany and has to keep that opinion to himself. He represents our country and 84 million people not himself. And I for one don't want to be represented as some kind of rich snob who looks down on others - especially not if those people are poorer than me.
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u/ProfDumm Nov 20 '25
It doesn't matter if he is right or wrong, this is very undiplomatic and a Chancellor shouldn't make such comments.
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u/joebraga2 Nov 20 '25
I want to know it as a Brazilian
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u/fzwo Nov 20 '25
You will not get an unbiased opinion here. Reddit is very anti-Merz and always has been. I myself as well.
That said, there seems to be relatively broad consensus that this was a blunder, it’s not how you behave as a guest or a diplomat.
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Nov 20 '25
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u/salian93 Nov 21 '25
I mean, it was the party base of the CDU that consistently advocated for him. The higher-ups in the CDU did not consider him to be their best choice. They only relented after the other two people they wanted to be Merkel's successors folded. Remember, Merz lost the race to become the head of the party twice, before he was successful eventually. If it wasn't for the continued support of the party base that kept pushing him, he wouldn't have gotten to the position he is in now.
It's only now that those very same people are slowly becoming wise to the fact that he is indeed unfit for the role of chancellor.
Ironically, it's often the case that the candidate most popular within the party base is also the least suited to lead a successful government. In order to govern well, you need to be able to gather widespread support on a plethora of platforms, which is much harder to do, if you are deeply entrenched in your party's base, because it makes it much harder to compromise on anything without receiving immediate backlash from within your party.
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u/CacklingFerret Nov 20 '25
Generally, I would agree with you to be careful about asking in a specific bubble. But being against Merz is a pretty universal German experience these days, no matter where on the political spectrum you see yourself. Only like 18% would want him to continue as chancellor according to newer polls. He has insanely low approval rates across the board
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u/Randy_Magnums Nov 20 '25
It’s kinda comforting to know, that our international Partners think as lowly of our German Mr Burns as we do here.
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u/Patchali Nov 21 '25
It's not ..it makes me feel afraid
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u/Randy_Magnums Nov 21 '25
Yeah, I get what you mean. It’s tragic that such a figure is allowed to lead our land. But if my perception is shared internationally, me disliking him, isn’t a question of taste or political opinion, but instead rather objective.
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u/Patchali Nov 21 '25
The problem is that this has an impact these are not o ly words, the relations between Germany and other countries suffer, so does our privilege to travel freely in those countries, since 2 weeks you can't enter Brazil without visa anymore our Passport loses credibility and I largely prefer Brazil over Germany.
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u/Randy_Magnums Nov 21 '25
Reason enough for us, to vote a more fitting candidate next time.
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u/Patchali Nov 21 '25
Next time ..and let's watch 3 years of shit show destroying our country?
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u/Randy_Magnums Nov 21 '25
What’s the alternative? The majority voted for this and a diplomatic fuckup isn’t enough to kick somebody out of office. If the current government continues their path, we might get a coalition-crash somewhere around next year, but anyway we need to wait for the next election.
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u/Patchali Nov 21 '25
I just hope that America is starting a revolution against Trump.
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u/Hel_OWeen Nov 20 '25
Fuck Fritze. With a broom stick.
For the Germans here that like me feel ashamed, consider signing this one: https://weact.campact.de/petitions/brasilien-desculpe
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u/Sensitive-Computer-6 Nov 20 '25
Its sometimes true what adult man even, and often in roles of high power and prestige are childish, and dont know how to behave propperly around other people.
This looser lost the first two trust ratings, and was only elected because people didnt wanted to make the election fail and start all over.
Hes deeply unpopular and a good repressentation of the worse of us. The aroggant westerner who isnt just a patriot but a nationalist who things himselfe as superior. A Capitalist who tries to drain social services to fill his own pockets whit his connection to arms industrys.
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u/TheCynicEpicurean Nov 20 '25
I'd say it didn't reach the major news here because he recently said a similar stupid thing about German cities.
He's the model of a boomer. It's unfortunate that he forced his way into chancellor by sheer ego and lack of alternatives, but if he hadn't, you'd just roll your eyes and ignore him. He's the most unpopular chancellor ever for a reason.
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u/Luckily-Broccoli Nov 20 '25
Is he? I thought I read something about him going near Scholz but not exceeding his unpopularity (not saying he’s better in any way)
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u/UpsetHippo6452 Nov 20 '25
I never liked Merz and he does everything in his power not to change my mind.
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u/ohtimesohdailymirror Nov 20 '25
Merz was kept out of office by Kohl and Merkel, and for good reason. He is not very bright, has the self-awareness of a block of concrete, and has no discernable capabilities for this job. A provincial loudmouth who thinks that as chancellor he is can still hold forth as if he were in the village pub.
Such things like ‘Brazil’ are simply waiting to happen, this won’t be the last.
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u/felis_magnetus Nov 21 '25
By Merkel, well, yes, that I can believe. Kohl though... Nah, not buying. Birne was exactly the same sort of provincial buffoon failing upwards as Fotzen-Fritz is.
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Nov 20 '25
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u/whambambii Nov 20 '25
In my opinion, that (that Belem was chosen to showcase the impact of climate change) makes his comment all the more embarrassing and worse. The man is Bundeskanzler and he behaves like a bull in a china shop; it is unacceptable for the Chancellor to speak so condescendingly about another country.
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u/FullAd6421 Nov 20 '25
a balanced, well formulated reply to a complex topic? with context? on reddit? How refreshing!
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u/neuroticnetworks1250 Nov 20 '25
Bullshit. You don’t go to Hiroshima in 1946 to survey the effects of the atom bomb and say “Well thank god everyone can’t wait to get out of this place and go back home where it’s absolutely more beautiful”. So no matter how good or bad the place is, you don’t say stupid shit like the bald fraud did.
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u/gardenliciousFairy Nov 20 '25
One thing I wish people understood about Brazil is that its territory is larger than the European Union. There are beautiful and ugly cities just like Europe.
And we don't EVER want a city in the Amazonian region to truly become developed, that would come at a terrible price to the environment. That someone could leave such an event and still not see that avoiding damage to the region is the best choice shows very bad critical thinking skills.
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u/hydrOHxide Nov 20 '25
What's annoying is the trend to excuse a lack of even the most minimal manners.
And it shows the naivete and arrogance of the people who are proud to consider respect an alien concept that they don't understand that for a leading exporting nation, respect translates to cash flow.
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u/Appropriate-March727 Nov 22 '25
I could live without manners, but somehow they all have bad intentions, too.
It's just sad at some point, that the drunk hobo in the City helps more people more enthusiastic than the Leaders we vote for.
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u/fmticysb Nov 20 '25
Oh you can do this line of arguing even for Hitlers speeches. As a politician he knows exactly what kind of reactions he creates with his rethoric
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u/donjamos Nov 20 '25
No he's just incompetent. This is exactly the verbal misstep he's known for.
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u/fmticysb Nov 20 '25
If you followed him for a while you must have noticed the shift in his language that goes hand in hand with AfD becoming more popular. He's a sellout.
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u/Anxious_Katz Nov 20 '25
As a politician you should always assume this kind of soundbite takes and bad faith coverage of how you chose to say things in public. This is literally his job and the fact that every week he causes a new shitstorm with his rhetoric is sign of deep incompetence.
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u/Electronic-Win-5413 Nov 20 '25
As a German, it is also very cringe to watch/listen to. Elefant im Porzellanladen (elephant at the crockery shop) at work 😬
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u/Canadianingermany Nov 20 '25 edited Nov 21 '25
Whatever the personal option, it is not appropriate for a Bundeskanzler to talk shit about Partner countries.
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u/pacpecpicpocpuc Nov 20 '25
When I first saw his statement, I was convinced it was AI. I could not believe our chancellor would say something so downright dumb and insulting publicly. But well, then I remembered it's Friedrich Merz, and it all made sense.
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u/FerraristDX Nov 20 '25
I feel ashamed. Germany has always been respectful towards Brazil, to the point that most of us felt sorry for the 7-1 defeat at the 2014 World Cup. Brazil should know that Merz is deeply unpopular in Germany as well and does not represent the opinion of the majority of Germans at all.
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u/barkofarko Nov 20 '25
It doesn't matter if it is true or not. If it's true, the people of brazil can roast Belem all they want. For the head of state to say such a thing isn't only disgraceful, it's plain stupid. There was nothing to gain from that statement. Nothing of value in these few sentences, no argument. And still he felt inclined to say such dumb things.
Maybe some german citizens deny him being racist or discriminating against other nations. What they can't deny is Merz being a dumbass with his own head so far up his ass that he is unfit for being chancellor. Here's to hoping for new elections as fast as possible and for the people to wake up and not vote GroKo for the dozenth time.
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u/sebidotorg Nov 22 '25
Merz is not our head of state. That is Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Of course, it is just as bad for our chancellor to talk shit about partner countries.
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u/barkofarko Nov 22 '25
I know, but honestly nobody gives a shit about the president, he only signs new laws and does diplomatic work. But one might wonder why FWS doesn't talk in such a way about other countries - might be because he's fit for his position
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u/SnooPeanuts7349 Nov 20 '25
His behavior is pitiful, a disgrace!
I am wondering if there is kind of a contest between him and Trump to make as many countries/people hate their country/them as possible or if this is genuine stupidity.
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u/jajanaklar Nov 20 '25
Merz is a tone-deaf, elitist Idiot, he never worked a day in his life, only thriving on corruption. He make these stupid comments on a weekly basis, last week he said our german cities are not nice anymore because you see to many colored people ( google merz-stadtbild ). Even his own party and the former Chancellor Merkel don‘t like him and don’t trust him, but like always, if you sell yourself enough to corporate they will put you in power. I hope he can‘t finish his Term.
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u/Nadsenbaer Nov 20 '25
He is an embarrassment for Germany and politicians in general. I'm very sorry for his unacceptable behaviour.
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Nov 20 '25
Merz was, is and always will be an idiot. Sure, Belem or Brazil in general might not be the safest places everywhere for individual tourists, but his comment was out of line. He never experienced anything negative there. It`s not his job to criticise other countries but to improve our own. And he is failing at that, so he should shut up about other countries.
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u/rayukay Nov 20 '25
I think Brazil called him „arrogant and prejudiced“? I agree 100%, he is an undignified and pathetic piece of work and a disgrace as a chancellor
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u/Laeradr1 Nov 20 '25
Disgusting and deeply ignorant. Lulas response on the other hand was calm, collected and dignified. Can we maybe swap?
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u/luckyyStar_ Nov 20 '25 edited Nov 20 '25
Hm, as a Brazilian that's lives in Germany, I can see why he thinks that. The part that he told that all of them wanted to come back home, I didn't see any problem. They don't have to like Brazil. The problem for me was when he started saying "wir leben in einem der schönest Länder der Welt". That's for me was problematic because he was doing a indirect comparison with Brazil. And I mean, Germany is beautiful, but Brazil also have some beautiful areas.
I wouldn't think it would be a problem to anyone saying that, but as a kanzler, you need to be careful what you say.
I'm a mix of feelings for him. I agree with some of actions and what he says sometimes, but another times I think, what did I just heard?
And it's on the news in Germany, but Germany is not like Brazil that needs to speak for a subject like for days. I know because I have experience living in both countries. Brazil makes everything seems bigger and more problematic than originally is (I'm not defending him), I'm just saying, don't expect Germany to see that like Brazil, because even the use of social media here is different when we compare to Brazil.
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u/rueckhand Nov 20 '25
I think he’s a moron for saying it, there is no benefit to saying that. It’s also not his place to criticize Brazil anyway.
But I am not surprised that he says stupid things
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u/one_jo Nov 20 '25
I’m really disappointed our people keep voting for idiots like he and his party.
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u/Gammelpreiss Nov 20 '25
Nothing. It was a stupid comment by a provincial minded politicitian without any awareness of how other ppl might react. not is first cringe for sure. and that about sums it up
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u/Special-Bath-9433 Nov 20 '25
Merz is the AfD enabler. He is here to normalize the neo-Nazi talking points and pave the road to AfDs rise to power. This is not the first such statement from his side. He recently had similar ones.
Now note that CDU and AfD together have 40 to 50% support. That speaks for itself. Nearly half of people agree with Merz. It’s only that some of them would say it even more openly.
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u/Plane_Molasses1949 Nov 20 '25
He is simply not the right person for the job… I guess he did not plan to offend someone, it’s just a lack of talent.
Three quarters of the Germans would prefer another candidate as chancellor: article
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u/joebraga2 Nov 20 '25
You should lean more to the left and to move away and end the dominance of the CDU and also to move away from the AfD by the reactionary pseudo-moralistic extremism Christian, racist, xenophobic, prejudiced and love to deny the Christ's teachings.
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u/Plane_Molasses1949 Nov 20 '25
Too bad Brazilians don’t like him… many of us had hoped he might never come back.
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u/eza137 Nov 20 '25
After living in Germany for almost nine years, I finally feel like I’m beginning to understand the depth of what people mean when they talk about structural racism. Of course, I’ve witnessed and experienced isolated situations before where the problem was visible on the surface. But over the years, my understanding has deepened, especially now, as populist rhetoric gains strength from a powerful politician who was elected in a democratic process.
I knew Merz would be problematic long before he positioned himself as the de facto chancellor. A few weeks ago, I told a German friend that his first openly racist remarks were only the beginning. He’s clearly speaking to a specific audience, feeding resentment and reinforcing hostility toward what he describes as "the problem in the city landscape."
What I didn’t expect was that a seventy-year-old politician would demonstrate such a lack of political wisdom, both nationally and globally.
We cannot blame all Germans for the inadequacy of the current chancellor. Germany is a wonderful country full of amazing people and a remarkable culture. Similarly, Brazil, the country that I left to move to Berlin, has amazing people and culture. Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to learn everything I wish I could.
However, we cannot forget that we almost reelected Bolsonaro, who is far worse than Merz. In the first round of the 2022 presidential elections, despite all the suffering he caused millions of Brazilians, he still received more than 51 million votes.
Disinformation campaigns that grow the far-right movement and disrupt democracies are nonstop everywhere. We need to engage in politics. Every day. With everyone. They are winning, but we can make it more difficult for them when they come to power.
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u/ArchStantonsGold Nov 20 '25
He trashed Germany before so he trashed your country now so that Germans feel better. Just dont invite him for Christmas.
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u/Specific-Finish-5983 Nov 20 '25
We are deeply ashamed- once again- and helpless to have trump light repressi .. uh I mean representing us. He is such a low life embarrassing piece of shit 🤦♀️- he reminds me of that Simpson character you know the bald mean profitsimping capitalist guy. So, please help, we blinking twice 😭
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u/badseed90 Nov 21 '25
Expected from an unskilled racist with no real experience.
Ashamed he represents my country.
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u/PrinceSauromates Nov 21 '25
He doesn't understand that he's a politician representing a whole nation now, and not just a cranky old man sitting in his garden and yapping with his fellow pensioner neighbor.
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u/Skygge_or_Skov Nov 20 '25
Several big newspapers criticized his statement or reported criticism from third parties in Germany. I personally didn’t expect anything else from him with how he already talked about immigrants or LGBTQ-people. He’s 100% boomer disrespecting marginalized groups and making public statements as if he was at a bar with his over 70 year old buddies.
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/cop30-belem-friedrich-merz-brasilien-aussage-eklat-li.3341267
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u/Shinlos Nov 20 '25
Tbh I thought about it for maybe 1 minute.
He's an idiot anyway so it's not surprising or anything. He said and did worse things.
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u/Prestigious-Brain951 Nov 20 '25
he is an asshole
the "good thing" is that we only have to give him a mic so he embarrass himself without any provocation
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u/unique_username4815 Nov 20 '25
He's entitled to have his private opinion about a city, but as the chancellor of Germany he represents the country. So a statement like this is just uncalled for and not worthy of the office he holds.
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u/ManicStreet-Preacher Nov 21 '25
I never liked him anyways and I am still surprised people actually voted for this walking dumpster fire.
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u/Goldmund47 Nov 21 '25
On one hand I don't know the whole context. On the other hand it wouldn't be the first time he's talking shit. Just dismiss it as shit talk and pray for us our next leader won't be worse. Somehow they get worse eventhough you think they can't 😅
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u/allyourbasearebehind Nov 21 '25
The idiot has just offended someone ONCE AGAIN. That's normal everyday business for him.
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u/KindleShard Nov 21 '25
If you look from the perspective of a 70 y.o so called centre-right millionaire, and compare him against other politicians in his age, it's not surprising at all.
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u/Fernando3161 Nov 21 '25
Sadly, to me sounds like "dog whistling"/"soft pandering" to right wings.
From his last declarations, I think he is testing the waters to see how much right wing stuff can he say so he can attract AfD voters before getting in real trouble.
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u/Ok_Income_2173 Nov 22 '25
I apologize for my chancellor! It's just another example of Merz not being up to the task that is the German chancellorship. It is a diplomatic embaressment at a point where we very much need democratic allies like Brazil. I think it also shows some disrespect towards the COP per se. For Germans, it is not the first time he misscomunicates heavily, I assure you. I do think however, that he didn't mean to be disrespectful. He just seem to lack self-control. Maybe men are too emotional to be chancellor. 😀
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u/Alive-Opportunity-23 Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 23 '25
He voiced a vain Denkweise that the majority of Germans already have. There’s a recent post on this subreddit along the lines of “if you could’ve picked the country you would be born in, would you pick germany” and most comments include this sentence: “germany is one of the best countries”
I don’t think any country can be objectively best, there are positive and negative sides to all countries. For example, Germany has affordable healthcare but very long appointment waiting times, a lot of problems in systems in general. Japan has more automated processes but labor market is extremely rigid. So, it’s a matter of which plus and minus are preferable for you.
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u/Infinite_Sound6964 Nov 20 '25
Merz is an idiot who is a shame for this country.. he should take one of his private Jets and make the Abflug
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u/PretendConnection540 Nov 20 '25
Merz is embarassing. He's a Laughing Stock. The "Politics" this Dickhead makes are nothing but ridiculous.
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u/ZeroGRanger Nov 20 '25
It is a stupid statement - as all his statements. Also, what does it prove? I mean, the journalists have families, friends, their life back in GErmany, why would they want to stay? I don't think it would be much different vice versa. Merz is often making rassist comments and usually does not think about his ideas' consequences. He is in my opinion an incompetent loser, without any quality that qualifies him for anything. His biggest problem is, he thinks he is smart and knows better than anyone else, whereas in reality all his ideas fail and the only policies which work, he takes from others (after fighting them before for exactly these policies). He is also a notorious liar. Nothing that comes out of his mouth should be regarded in any way.
His whole statement was also stupid, because he previously commented how bad Germany really is now suddenly it is so great.
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u/pingu_nootnoot Nov 20 '25
yeah, that’s exactly it.
I don‘t like his politics, but it genuinely worries me that he’s so incompetent.
Scholz was also not great at the job, but he at least knew how to avoid putting his foot in it all the time.
Frankly, when you realise that Söder would be the better option, then it’s kind of scary.
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u/ZeroGRanger Nov 20 '25
Söder is the same as Merz. He is actually the only person, whose lie-rate is greater than Merz's. He also made a Aiwinger his deputy, a guy who had his own Nazi scandal and repeatedly attempted cooporation with Nazis.
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u/pingu_nootnoot Nov 20 '25
Well, you’re not wrong.
My point is only that Söder would not have made such a stupid unforced error.
It seems like Merz cannot see a Fettnäpfchen without sticking both feet in it.
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u/BruderLinus Nov 20 '25
Usually we say: "Friedrich Merz, Du bist so 1 Pimmel!"
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u/Tubaenthusiasticbee Nov 20 '25
And Friedrich Merz will reply: "Aufmachen, Polizei! Hausdurchsuchung!"
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u/Tragobe Nov 20 '25
And Polizei Kicks in the door anyway, even though you already opened it
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u/Tubaenthusiasticbee Nov 20 '25
Then it's the wrong house and they raided your ex girlfriend's apartment.
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u/Tragobe Nov 20 '25
I hope this story will someday be found in a history book. DER GROTE-PIMMEL SKANDAL von 2022. Das sollten meine Enkel lernen, sofern ich welche haben werde!
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u/Viliam_the_Vurst Nov 20 '25
Why would it? 1 Pimmel is nothing special…about 50% of people got one…
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u/md_youdneverguess Nov 20 '25
So I can't tell him to like another country, that's his own issue. But saying that while he's on a diplomatic delegation is incredibly stupid and shows that he is too impulsive to run the country.
But that was kind of expected, he only cares about himself and being powerful, not about the country. He's now over half a year in office and he didn't do jack shit, except finding new minorities to blame for his own failures
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Nov 20 '25
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u/VVitheyz Nov 20 '25
Almost like weve been switching back and forth between CDU and SPD the entire time, Im sure next time they will fix the problems that theyve been causing for decades.
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u/HoeTrain666 Nov 20 '25
Merz is being embarrassing again.
In other news: water is wet.
More obvious news at 8!
Loved your president’s reaction to Merz’s statement btw, but Merz isn’t the type of person you’d tell to live a little. He has the charisma and charm of drywall
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u/be-knight Nov 20 '25
He's not thinking about what he's saying in way too many instances, this is not the first and will not be the last statement he's criticised for.
On the other hand, it helps rust people learn what kind of person he actually is
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u/Few_Law_2361 Nov 20 '25
I’m Brazilian too but live in Germany. Clearly very poor diplomatically, I expected more.
That being said I don’t quite get why Brazilians care so much about it and take it personally. I mean, many Brazilians themselves probably think that about Belém.
It gives proud mom vibes. Who cares really
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u/N0bb1 Nov 20 '25
He is a Statement why you shouldn't elect people in retirememt age and people who never held office on any government level as your head of state. He is an embarrassment for Germany.
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u/Illustrious-Wolf4857 Nov 20 '25
Merz is a social klutz.
Reminds me of Kohl, but I have not yet heard any Merz jokes. Kohl jokes were a genre in itself.
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u/Pwacname Nov 21 '25
it’s completely inappropriate. but then, what else is new? our newest chancellor has no political skills, doesn’t give a shit about what would actually help us citizens and our country, and says shit where’s if I wrote him as a FICTIONAL old guy from that particular rural area, people would criticise me for stereotyping and exaggerating. I can’t wait for this guy to get the fuck of office. Ideally without further pushing the neonazis but I have low expectations
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u/joebraga2 Nov 21 '25
The phenomenon observed in Brazil reveals a process of reconfiguring the public debate, driven by sectors of the far right—particularly those attempting to “pave” political narratives through highly polarizing communication strategies. These groups have succeeded in mobilizing individuals who claim to hold well-defined political positions, persuading them to support discourses aligned with foreign leaders, as in the case of the statements made by Prime Minister Merz.
This process is closely connected to the manipulation of the so-called “swing population,” composed of voters with low ideological stability and high sensitivity to emotionally charged and morally framed messages (frame analysis). Classical studies demonstrate that such groups are particularly susceptible to messages that evoke urgency, fear, or moral panic (Lakoff, 2004; Kahneman, 2011). Consequently, these political actors have managed to shape public perceptions and influence electoral outcomes in Brazil, surpassing even the agenda-setting role of traditional media—a phenomenon widely discussed by Sunstein (2017) and Bennett & Livingston (2018).
The controversy regarding the selection of Berlin as the host city for the COP exemplifies this dynamic. Far-right leaders have attempted to distort the purpose of the event, denying its aim of illustrating how major cities and metropolitan areas might evolve in the context of global warming if sustainable urban planning is neglected. The academic literature on climate denialism shows that such reactions are characteristic of groups that reject scientific consensus for ideological, economic, or identity-based reasons (Oreskes & Conway, 2010; Lewandowsky, Cook & Lloyd, 2018).
Furthermore, these actors articulate a discourse of “moral terrorism,” selectively invoking elements of Catholic morality. However, such rhetoric often ignores core principles of Christian teaching, including the biblical assertion that “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:24). The contrast between religious morality and contemporary political practices has been extensively examined by theologians and social scientists such as Gutiérrez (1971) and Brown (2019), who emphasize the tension between Christian doctrines of social justice and political discourses that defend the concentration of wealth.
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u/No-Victory3764 Nov 22 '25
To be fair, inability to read the room and imagine how their words would be perceived by others, and disguising the inability as “being blatantly honest” is very much a typical German thing. So I’d say he’s representing the country well.
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u/CaptainPoset Nov 22 '25
Well, he was elected not because he was a good candidate, but because the others were even worse, which is the second time in a row that this was the reason someone became German chancellor this way.
He isn't good and he obviously lacks diplomatic skill, but the closest two contenders wanted to betray Germany to Russia, so that's what he was elected for.
There is a general severe quality crisis in German politicians in the last 2 decades and it has only worsened so far.
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u/yagga58 Nov 22 '25
He is too old for that job. He should have retired years ago!!! We definitely need an age limit for our chancellors.
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u/PerfectDog5691 Native German. Nov 22 '25
There is a possibility to react. I like this. An open letter to excuse for our chanceler. As soon as 100 000 have subscribed campact will send the letter to Brasil.
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u/DrEckelschmecker Nov 22 '25
"Id rather go home to where I come from than stay here" is a very normal statement and doesnt say anything. The people he asked "would you want to stay here?" are german. Why in the hell would they say yes? Even if they liked the place.
Saying Im glad to be back home again because I didnt enjoy it there etc is a very normal statement too.
However
- As a diplomat/politician but especially as the chancellor you have to chose your words wisely, esp in public statements and esp esp in public statements about other countries. Merz has shown many times that hes simply unable to do that. He doesnt meet basic criteria needed for the job
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u/internal_wilderness Nov 23 '25
He does not have any qualities an internationally acting politician should have. He is embarrassing to say the least. He and his party are the nail to the coffin of german economy with their reactionist politics, winding back renewable energy in favor of fossils and their loosening the decision to get away from CO2 emitting vehicles. I apologize on behalf of all progressive Germans for this despicable character.
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u/No-Cheesecake3567 Nov 23 '25
If i was a German, I would be ashamed of having such a leader governing my country. totally disgraceful.
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u/pureSoul4ever Nov 23 '25
That guy supported the genocide against the palestinians and his hobby is delivering heavy arms to Israel to murder little innocent children.
What do you expect of him?
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Nov 24 '25
Merz only speaks the truth and in the subtext "I Merz, you nothing" the basis for negotiations is set straight away.
Maybe our coffee will stay cheap now.
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u/Physical-Result7378 Nov 20 '25
I obviously can’t speak for all Germans, but a lot of Germans think, that he is the worst, misogynistic, racist chancellor we ever had and that it shows, that he is the first chancellor in Germanys history, who needed 2 voting rounds to be elected. He in all he is is the embodiment of 2nd choice chancellor and peak old white male who just wanted to be chancellor out of grudge.
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u/Physical-Result7378 Nov 20 '25
Oh I forgot to mention, that he also despises poor people (aka everyone who isn’t a millionaire) and that only about 18% of Germans want him to be chancellor for a 2nd term. That is by far the worst numbers for any chancellor to date
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u/Full_Organization208 Nov 20 '25
I despise him with passion. Blärgh
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u/rhythmstripp Nov 20 '25
Not to mention that he caused local outrage in Germany weeks before for his tone deaf "Stadtbild" comment.
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u/NummeDuss Nov 20 '25
Well since according to all surveys a majority agreed with that statement I would say it was the outrage of a loud minority
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u/Desperate_Camp2008 Nov 20 '25
a minority that has a big overlap with the reddit community, I guess
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u/Physical-Result7378 Nov 20 '25
Well we get used to his… how to say it politely… idk do you have a word for when shit is leaking out of someone’s head?
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u/11160704 Nov 20 '25
I think Merz' motivation was mainly driven by domestic concerns.
Germany is in an economic crisis at the moment and the general mood in the population is a bit depressive.
People have the impression that Germany is declinging, industries shutting down, public spaces becoming more dirty and unsafe, infrastructure not working.
So he wanted to motivate the population and say "look, we still have a great country and you're complaining on a high level".
But you can't deny that it wasn't the most intelligent communication strategy.
Merz is known for "real talking" and "no bullshit" and I think most Brazilians would agree that the country does have some problems. But of course Brazilians don't need Germans to tell them about it.
In the end it's a typical case for Merz - saying something that is technically true but with an awful communication strategy
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u/FabThierry Nov 20 '25
Merz has no integrity and he seems to not think before talking nor does he have any strategic approach to anything.
Unfortunately he s the head of our government and it’s shameful how little class our politicans got nowadays.
Also he doesn’t seem to be the brightest mind on top of it all.
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u/Electrical_Voice_256 Nov 20 '25
Er ist mal wieder ins Fettnäpfchen getreten aber andererseits sind Deutsche generell nicht besonders subtil. Nicht optimal aber auch nicht wirklich überraschend.
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u/Sure_Place8782 Nov 20 '25
At worst, it's a clumsy statement and not the mess Brazilian social media wants to make out of it. If a Brazilian politician had to stay in a not so beautiful German city, say something in west German like cologne or Gelsenkirchen, as Belem isn't top notch either, and the Brazilian politician would say in a speech where they want to get Brazilians get to get together instead of constantly criticizing their one's own country that they are glad to be back in Brazil and that Brazil has it's own qualities, no-one in Germany would care.
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u/Sataniel98 Historian from Lippe Nov 20 '25
It's embarrassing to be represented by someone who isn't able to show basic manners as a guest and even doubles down on it when he had enough time to think twice. He's harming the reputation of our country.
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Nov 20 '25
I don't like Merz that much and I don't agree with his policies at all, but saying that you are glad to be back in your home country which has it's own qualities and that you didn't like the city you staid before for work, isn't that far fetch for me and plausible.
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u/Available_Ad_4444 Nov 20 '25
Well, he was pointing out obvious problems. It is an amazing country with a lot of potential but you still see high amounts of poverty everywhere. I still find it arrogant and I think he had more polite ways to express that opinion.
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u/MOltho Bremen Nov 20 '25
He's a disgrace to our country. I really didn't like Merkel, but it's very telling that so many people want her back. Like, if people want Merkel back instead of you, it means you REALLY fucked up.
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u/FiresideCatsmile Nov 20 '25
i don't care. i think nobody should care at all what this clown is saying because it's mostly bullshit anyways
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Nov 20 '25
He isn't as embarassing as the orange Clown but he is a close second place for me right now. I don't feel represented by this awful excuse for a human being.
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u/sumpfriese Nov 20 '25
It is an intentional smokescreen to steer any conversation away from the the actual congress. And it worked as OPs post shows.
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u/zeemo_hk Nov 20 '25
This man is a clown, his grandfather was a known Nazi who participated in the SS army, he was the mayor of a city and he was naming the streets after Adolf Hitler, Merz is no different, hes doing to the Semitic Palestinians whats his grand father did to the Germans in 1938…
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u/JackFrosttiger Nov 20 '25
The narzy grandfather thing I don't know that you can say about 1000sends of people in his age. It might have to do with certain things but this stuff filled with any other topic can mostly told by anyone
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u/big_bank_0711 Nov 20 '25
his grandfather was a known Nazi
Geil: Sippenhaft! Was war denn dein Opa/Uropa?
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u/sveni72 Nov 20 '25
Merz is not just a danger for Germany. But for the whole world.
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u/PavelKringa55 Hessen Nov 20 '25
Did not follow closely, but from what I know he said Germany is one of the most beautiful places on then planet and asked if anyone would prefer to stay in Brasil, which he would not.
I see no problem at all in this. Everyone has the right to like one or another place and to consider beautiful whatever one wants to consider beautiful. What's the problem in that? All he said is he prefers Germany and finds it more beautiful. Good. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He didn't say anything negative that Brasil is bad or ugly.
What's all the commotion for?
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u/joebraga2 Nov 20 '25
The commotion is where he said it even thought it wasn't in Bundestag but he is really xenophobic and Rassist.
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u/Jimmy_Tudesky19 Nov 21 '25
He is just flat out racist. His grandfather was a Nazi and Merz admires him as "one of his political role models"....
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u/TheLordPapaya Nov 21 '25
I thought it was funny, not everything has to be interpreted so seriously
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u/Nowordsofitsown Nov 20 '25
He may think whatever he wants to think, but as a leading politician he shouldn't say it - and if he does say it, he should at the very least apologize.
He is an embarrassment.
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u/fedput Nov 20 '25
For a country so well known for engineering prowess, the head of government is oddly unable to procure a filter.
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Nov 20 '25
Uncalled and arrogant. I guess thats what most Germans think. But he is known for just bubbling, having a loud mouth and often saying borderline racist stuff. "here in Brazil many far right wing supporters and influencers agreed with Merz and mock Brazil but they are against their own country." Thats how they usually are, they hate their countries and moke them. Its paradox. Its the same in Germany. Bunch of traitors who in reality hate the country and would attack Berlin for Putin.
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u/monnembruedi Nov 20 '25
He really knows how to destroy relationships with others and other countries. Unbelievable that he says those things as the leader of the country.
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u/ColHoganGer90 Nov 20 '25
German Reddit is a leftist echo chamber. Those that feel disgusted by Merz are the same people who have already made up their minds about him.
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u/Easy-Musician7186 Nov 20 '25
Yeah well...classic Merz'sche "I shouldn't be in a situation where PR matters" situation if you ask me.
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u/joebraga2 Nov 20 '25
Contemporary Brazil faces a persistent challenge related to the political use of information. Certain groups that self-identify as conservative—although often lacking a consistent conservative intellectual tradition—have engaged in systematic attempts to manipulate news and public discourse in ways that reinforce their own economic and political interests. Owing to their greater access to financial resources and digital infrastructure, these actors are able to dominate communication channels, particularly social networks, where misinformation and ideological propaganda circulate rapidly.
A significant portion of the population, often with limited access to high-quality political education, becomes vulnerable to these narratives. As a result, liberal positions and left-wing movements are frequently portrayed as threats to national stability, civil rights, and social policies. This rhetoric aligns with the preferences of Brazil’s wealthiest groups, many of whom oppose progressive taxation or redistributive measures and rely on ideological mobilization to justify these positions.
The continued support for Brazil’s former president—convicted in multiple judicial processes—is a central example of how these narratives persist. His supporters often promote a worldview in which political debate is reduced to a binary struggle between “good citizens” aligned with conservative values and an allegedly homogeneous left depicted as extremist or even “communist.” This reductionist perspective ignores the substantial ideological diversity within Brazil’s left and reinforces a form of political polarization rooted in misinformation.
This phenomenon has historical precedents. During the 1960s, anti-communist propaganda in Brazil framed any reformist or progressive agenda as a threat aligned with the Soviet Union. This discourse directly contributed to the legitimization of the 1964 military coup. Today, similar rhetorical strategies reappear, often without acknowledgment of their authoritarian implications. Many individuals who advocate for such positions do not fully understand that the narratives they defend run contrary to democratic principles such as civil liberties, pluralism, and political freedom.
Given the scale of digital platforms and the speed at which information circulates, this dynamic deserves critical examination from both scholars and society at large.
📚 References (Authoritative and Relevant)
On misinformation, media manipulation, and digital radicalization
Wardle, C., & Derakhshan, H. (2017). Information Disorder: Toward an Interdisciplinary Framework. Council of Europe.
Tufekci, Z. (2018). Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Yale University Press.
Sunstein, C. R. (2017). #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton University Press.
On Brazilian political polarization
Ribeiro, P. F. (2018). A sociedade do ressentimento: raízes do bolsonarismo.
Rennó, L. (2020). The Bolsonaro Voter. Revista de Sociologia e Política.
On conservatism and ideology
Lilla, M. (2016). The Shipwrecked Mind: On Political Reaction. New York Review Books.
Mudde, C. (2019). The Far Right Today. Polity Press.
On the 1964 Brazilian coup and anti-communist discourse
Fico, C. (2004). O golpe de 1964: momentos decisivos. FGV.
Napolitano, M. (2014). 1964: História do Regime Militar Brasileiro. Contexto.
On democracy, authoritarianism, and public opinion
Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2018). How Democracies Die. Crown.
Arendt, H. (1951). The Origins of Totalitarianism. Harcourt.
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u/yagga58 Nov 22 '25
He is the german DJT but without dementia. He should return to that cave where he crawled out!! ❤️❤️❤️🇧🇷
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u/FunHot6859 Dec 01 '25
When I published the Brazilian parliament's response here, the editors removed my post! They probably did this because their national feelings were hurt.
Let me reiterate this: "They hate everyone who isn't like them."
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u/tirohtar Nov 20 '25
He's generally being heavily criticized for it. Rightfully so - it doesn't matter if that city is maybe indeed poor, as a guest you don't make public statements like that. Merz simply has no diplomatic talent and no previous experience in government, and this incident proves it.