News on this topic
“If Merz is so affected by this ‘Lügenfritz’ post, then he has entirely different problems” Anna Schneider: “If Merz is so affected by this 'Lügenfritz' post, then he has much bigger problems” - | Video - | WELT
Insult to Merz under Facebook post - | Court imposes hefty fine on "Lying Fritz" Multiple proceedings: Insulting Merz in Facebook post - | Court imposes hefty fine for "Lying Fritz" - | Video - | WELT
More articles on this subject
Previous
Merz called “Lügenfritz”: Court imposes fine: “Pinocchio” and “Lügen-Kasper” were still acceptable, but “Lügenfritz” directed at Friedrich Merz resulted in a ...
focus.de/politik/analyse/merz-luegenfritz-genannt-gericht-verhaengt-geldstrafe_e2236207-facb-436e-87ec-bd11d32644f8.html
,regionOfInterest=(1828,645)&hash=8ef07eec9de3c81a38ada6be64dd0a7e6058cc4934fc8ed965ebf6dd9f4bbb92)
Controversial trial over insults against the chancellor: Court imposes fine for “Lügenfritz”
tagesspiegel.de/politik/umstrittene-verfahren-wegen-kanzler-beleidigungen-gericht-verhangt-geldstrafe-fur-lugenfritz-15663801.html

"Lying Fritz": Court imposes fine on Friedrich Merz for insult: Court imposes fine on Facebook user for insulting Friedrich Merz as "Lying Fritz" ...
weltwoche.de/daily/luegenfritz-gericht-verhaengt-geldstrafe-wegen-beleidigung-gegen-friedrich-merz/

Next
Similar to This
Previous
The Offended: Once again, police are taking action against a young person at a demonstration over an alleged insult directed at the Chancellor ...
netzpolitik.org/2026/krise-der-meinungsfreiheit-die-beleidigten/

After cases like the Merz insult in Heilbronn: Will the paragraph on insulting politicians soon be softened?
stimme.de/heilbronn/stadt-heilbronn/luegenfritz-beleidigung-fall-kanzler-friedrich-merz-besuch-heilbronn-spatenstich-ipai-neuregelung-strafe-paragraf-188-art-5182518

OpinionPenalties for insulting politicians: We don’t need to protect politicians less—we need to protect them better
spiegel.de/netzwelt/politiker-beleidigung-wir-muessen-die-betroffenen-nicht-weniger-schuetzen-sondern-besser-a-725b7045-2365-43c9-89b9-91e2dbe2ec20

Paid articlePaywallInsults: "It's not about the politician, it's about the institution": Müssen Amtsträger vor Beleidigungen besser geschützt werden? Die sächsische ...
zeit.de/2026/26/beleidigung-politiker-schutz-constanze-geiert-renate-kuenast
Paid articlePaywallOnline Insult Against Merz: More Than Just “Lying Fritz”: A summary judgment for a rather harmless description of the Chancellor has recently caused quite a stir ...
spiegel.de/panorama/strafbefehl-wegen-beleidigung-des-bundeskanzlers-mehr-als-nur-luegenfritz-a-daf6c046-f203-4589-88f9-323cbc3779e9

Proceedings against Stefan Ziegler discontinued: Public Prosecutor's Office closes investigations
onetz.de/oberpfalz/ploessberg/verfahren-gegen-stefan-ziegler-eingestellt-staatsanwaltschaft-schliesst-ermittlungsverfahren-id5398497.html

Insults against politicians: 30 daily rates for a "liar": Reports of insults against politicians are increasing rapidly due to a change in the law and AI ...
augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/beleidigungen-gegen-politiker-30-tagessaetze-fuer-einen-luegenfritz-09-06-114394091

Protesters in Berlin demand Chancellor Merz's resignation: The demonstrators also demanded a halt to migration and the immediate deportation of all convicted ...
trtworld.com/article/99e6d9dc5c3f

Heilbronn draws a clear line - Merz described as a "paint monkey" - Local court issues penalty order
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.heilbronn-zieht-klare-grenze-merz-als-lackaffe-bezeichnet-amtsgericht-erlaesst-strafbefehl.58b01a71-3ef1-4a6b-b9cf-c42e882be0c8.html

Key FactsFine Issued for Insulting Chancellor Online
May 28, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
- The Heilbronn prosecutor deemed the term 'Lackaffe' offensive and outside acceptable political critique toward Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- Authorities reviewed 38 Facebook comments related to a police post, with only the 'Lackaffe' remark resulting in legal action.
- A fine of 30 daily rates was issued by the local court, with the accused filing an appeal.
- The 'Pinocchio' comment was dismissed as protected free speech and a permissible form of political criticism.
"Lackaffe" (translated as "lacquered fool")— Facebook comment under the Heilbronn Police Department's post about Merz's visit; the term is used to insult the Chancellor.
OpinionMerz reveals a problematic relationship with freedom of expression online: A new court ruling shows: The German Chancellor is thin-skinned. This problem is ...
nzz.ch/der-andere-blick/friedrich-merz-muss-hunderte-verfahren-wegen-beleidigung-offenlegen-sein-verhaeltnis-zur-meinungsfreiheit-im-internet-ist-problematisch-ld.1932839

Nasty comments against Chancellor Merz: Which insults led to penalty orders?: The proceedings against the pensioner from Heilbronn who called Chancellor Merz ...
stimme.de/heilbronn/stadt-heilbronn/pinocchio-facebook-kommentar-friedrich-merz-ermittlungen-polizei-staatsanwaltschaft-verfahren-art-5151461

Paid articlePaywallPublic prosecutor's office: "Pinocchio" permissible criticism of Merz: Calling Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) “Pinocchio” will have no legal ...
focus.de/politik/deutschland/staatsanwaltschaft-pinocchio-zulaessige-kritik-an-merz_7ae18640-daa2-42ec-be7f-14de016c3283.html

Prosecutor's office decides: “Pinocchio” comparison with Merz has no legal consequences
n-tv.de/politik/Pinocchio-Vergleich-mit-Merz-hat-juristisch-keine-Folgen-id30400455.html

Called “Pinocchio”: Police investigate insults against Merz: In October, Chancellor Merz will travel to Heilbronn. Not everyone is happy about this ...
n-tv.de/politik/Polizei-ermittelt-nach-Beleidigungen-gegen-Merz-id30395888.html
Key FactsInsults Spark Police Probe After Merz Visit
Feb 23, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz attended the groundbreaking for the IPAI Campus in Heilbronn.
- A Heilbronn police Facebook post informing about a flight ban during the visit drew insulting comments in late October.
- Comments including 'Pinocchio' and 'Lackaffe' were filtered out and prompted state security investigations into multiple users.
- A police spokesman said that an initial suspicion of a criminal offense must be pursued.
"Covered by freedom of expression": Proceedings dropped against pensioner who called Chancellor Merz "Pinocchio"
weltwoche.de/daily/von-meinungsfreiheit-gedeckt-verfahren-eingestellt-gegen-rentner-der-kanzler-merz-als-pinocchio-bezeichnete/

“Lying Clown” and “Pinocchio” as insults? Away with special rights for politicians
stimme.de/heilbronn/stadt-heilbronn/kommentar-merz-beleidigung-pinocchio-luegen-kasper-ermittlungen-anzeige-kommentar-art-5144851

Paid articlePaywallSuspicion of incitement to hatred – proceedings against “Nius” boss Reichelt dropped after X-Post
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.berlin-verfahren-gegen-nius-chef-reichelt-nach-x-post-eingestellt.7d6e955d-44fb-418d-b0ce-034793edeac3.html

Next