CDU Seeks Minister’s Head Over Merz Tweet Scandal!

CDU Seeks Minister's Head Over Merz Tweet Scandal!

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has called for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) to resign following a tweet about CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Linnemann told the Rheinische Post that Lauterbach’s behavior is not new, but this incident has a new quality. He claims that Lauterbach’s apology is not sufficient, citing a pattern of behavior where the minister makes a statement, only to later apologize.

Lauterbach had posted a message on the X platform, criticizing Merz for allegedly befriending the far-right AfD party. The post was later removed, but not before it sparked controversy. Lauterbach later apologized to Merz, stating that he had made a mistake.

In the context of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Linnemann believes that Lauterbach’s words crossed a significant boundary. He argues that a minister, in particular, has a responsibility to maintain a democratic climate and that Lauterbach’s actions have compromised that. Linnemann’s statement has sparked a heated debate, with some defending Lauterbach’s right to free speech and others criticizing the minister’s perceived lack of sensitivity.