talk show of the German public television station ZDF on Tuesday . The 67-year-old politician sat next to sociologist Aladin El-Mafaalani, journalist Eva Quadbeck and economist Marcel Fratzscher in the studio.
The main topic was migration. Friedrich Merz tried to take a firm position when he explained that the problem does not start with New Year's Eve in Berlin. " Let's talk to primary school teachers about what they experience every day, including verbal violence. When they want to discipline certain children, the result is often that the parents show up at the school and forbid them, especially when it comes to female teachers, to reprimand their sons," he said .
According to him, society has become "too soft" and "too lenient". However, parents should not always give in, and "the same applies to the state and society."
He then noted that if these problems are not dealt with in time, it should not be surprising if people encounter phenomena like those seen on New Year's Eve. After all, these are " predominantly young people from the Arab world who refuse to follow the rules here in Germany and who even enjoy challenging the state ".
" We are talking about people - he continued - who actually have nothing to earn in the country, who we tolerate here for a long time, who we do not deport, and who we are surprised that they have such things. "
According to the politician, everyone in Germany has their own chance, and the chances have "rarely been as good as they are now". However, it is difficult to deal with those who do not follow the rules. He also said that if the state constantly "looks away", then "lawless areas" could develop.
" And I think that in Germany we have looked away for too many years "
Merz emphasized.
Aladin Mafaalani, a social scientist of Syrian origin, took Merz's words a bit lightly. He responded: " First of all, you're talking a little too much about people of Arab descent for me ," before adding: "a little too much stereotyping . Moreover, according to him, it should be noted that
those in question are "our children" . " This is Germany "
- He told. He also reminded the CDU politician that the police "recorded a whole range of nationalities" (although it is questionable to what extent this weakens what Merz had to say). " So you'll probably have to take it back within a week or two, " said Mafaalani, a staff member at the Institute of Education at the University of Osnabrück.
However, the president of the CDU did not express himself in a hurtful or extreme manner, since after his earlier statements he also voiced his opinion that he is not one of those who generally think that "those who live here as foreigners are not integrated". " This is nonsense. There is a problem with a small group of foreigners, " he added.
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger , many people believed after the show that Merz was adding fuel to the debate . Some of those commenting on social media declared the leader of the CDU a downright racist. It is true that the paper does not quote the "average commentators", but only Merz's political opponents...
" It's impressive how Friedrich Merz presents the perfect caricature of the latent racist uncle, " Social Democrat Korbinian Rüger commented on the broadcast.
His party colleague, Metin Hakverdi, had a similar opinion. " Afghans", then "Arabs" and finally "religion". Please, Mr. Lanz, let Merz speak, then the "black hair" will also come up, " the SPD politician wrote on Twitter.
Luigi Pantisano, a member of the presidency of the far-left party Die Linke, responded simply: " I'll keep it short: Friedrich Merz is a racist ."
Meanwhile, the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger notes, sociologist El-Mafaalani has received a lot of praise on social media. " Aladdin El-Mafaalani's performance in the show was very strong, " wrote Green Party politician Christopher Pieper.
However, if we look at the comments received under the quoted posts, the picture becomes a little more nuanced. The majority, it seems, do not share the narrative of left-wing politicians. According to one commenter, for example, many people may be horrified by Merz's wording, but at the same time, he "clearly states what the vast majority of the population currently thinks". Another commenter wrote under Pantisano's racist tweet, “ No, it's not . (…) Too much immigration ruined the country. This has nothing to do with racism! "
It looks like 2023 could indeed be a year of sharp social debate in Germany.
Source: hirado.hu
In the highlighted picture, Friedrich Merz (Photo: MTI/EPA pool/Filip Singer)
