Prosecutor's Office: "Pinocchio" Criticism of Merz Permissible - German court dismisses 'Pinocchio' jab at Chancellor Merz as free speech
A Facebook user who referred to Chancellor Friedrich Merz as 'Pinocchio' will not face legal action. Prosecutors have ruled the comment as protected criticism under freedom of expression. The decision comes amid wider scrutiny of social media posts linked to the chancellor's recent appearances.
The case began after a local police department's Facebook post about Merz's visit to Heilbronn drew nearly 400 comments. Among them, 38 posts—including one calling him 'Pinocchio'—were flagged for potential criminal offences. Authorities reviewed each remark to determine whether they crossed legal boundaries.
Prosecutors concluded that the 'Pinocchio' reference fell within acceptable limits of political critique. They argued it represented legitimate criticism of authority, safeguarded by free speech laws. However, officials noted that not all related cases have been finalised. The police post, which announced the chancellor's visit, sparked a flood of reactions. While most comments remained uncontroversial, the 38 under investigation included variations of the nickname. No further details were provided about the remaining unresolved cases.
The ruling sets a precedent for how similar remarks may be treated in future cases. Legal protections for free expression have shielded the user from penalties. Authorities continue to examine other posts linked to the same event.
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