Former Green Party leader Ricarda Lang urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to take a clear stance on the case of Collien Fernandes. “I would like Chancellor Merz to speak out on the Collien Fernandes case, because he is the Chancellor of this country” Lang told RTL and ntv on Monday. “As Chancellor he also bears responsibility for whether women can feel safe in this country-whether on the street or online”.
Lang also criticised shortcomings in protecting women from digital violence. “When it comes to digital violence and the protection of women, our legal system is failing” she said. “I cannot accept that a Chancellor treats this as a marginal issue or deals with it ignorantly”. She called for the Chancellor to stand up and say, “As a man I will not remain silent on this; I will not downplay it, but I will be solidarity‑oriented and push legislation that ensures women are protected in the future”.
Previously, Lang and 250 prominent women presented a 10‑point plan tackling digitized sexualised violence. The plan calls for tougher laws against deepfakes, greater protection for victims and increased accountability for internet platforms.