The opposition Left party is demanding a swift apology from CDU leader Friedrich Merz following a deeply insensitive remark directed at the Brazilian government. Merz’s comments, made during a trade congress in Berlin, have ignited a diplomatic row and drawn condemnation within Germany.
During the event, Merz recounted an anecdote suggesting that Brazilian journalists he spoke to during his trip to the recent World Climate Conference in Belém expressed eagerness to leave the country. “No one raised their hand” he reportedly stated, adding that everyone was simply relieved to return to Germany.
The anecdote has been met with outrage in Brazil, prompting accusations of colonial insensitivity and a lack of respect for Brazilian sovereignty. Within Germany, the fallout has been swift and critical.
Jan van Aken, leader of the Left party, characterized Merz’s comments as “a colonial pronouncement one would expect from Bismarck, not from a potential chancellor in 2025”. He accused Merz of residing in a detached and outdated worldview, highlighting a potential disconnect from contemporary diplomatic protocol and a concerning lack of sensitivity to Brazil’s national pride.
The incident raises broader questions about the preparedness of German political leadership to navigate increasingly complex international relations, particularly concerning historically sensitive regions. While the CDU has yet to issue a formal response to the growing criticism, the Left’s call for an apology underscores the potential for lasting damage to German-Brazilian relations if the matter is not addressed with a demonstrable commitment to respect and understanding. Whether Merz’s remark reflects a deeper pattern of insensitivity within the CDU, or simply a moment of unfortunate gaffe, remains to be seen, but the immediate political repercussions are already significant.