Merz under fire for weak response to violence against women crisis
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced sharp criticism over his response to sexualised and digital violence against women. His comments on Wednesday, addressing the Fernandes/Ulmen case for the first time, sparked backlash from Green Party MPs. They accused him of lacking both empathy and concrete solutions to protect victims.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a new draft law aimed at improving support for survivors of violence and sexual crimes in court. The move comes as pressure grows to tackle the issue more effectively.
Speaking publicly, Merz acknowledged a worrying rise in violence across society, describing it as an 'explosion'. He pointed to immigrant communities as a significant source of the problem but also claimed progress had been made. According to him, the Bundestag—with support from his own party—had already passed a law on violence protection in the previous legislative term.
On digital violence, Merz insisted that many men, including himself, were actively discussing the issue. Yet his remarks failed to satisfy critics. Green Party MP Lena Gumnior dismissed his statements as vague, arguing he showed 'half-baked knowledge' of existing legislative efforts. She accused him of downplaying women's experiences and demanded clearer action to combat online abuse. Gumnior was not alone in her criticism. Fellow Green MP Robin Wagener condemned Merz for a lack of empathy and firm commitment in tackling sexualised violence. Both politicians stressed that, despite years of discussion, no concrete laws against digital violence had been enacted since 2020. The cabinet's new draft law, approved on Wednesday, seeks to strengthen victims' rights in court. It follows a proposal by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, which includes measures like blocking abusive accounts, banning AI-generated non-consensual pornography, and addressing doxing and cyberstalking. These steps align with the EU's Violence Against Women Directive, though full implementation is not required until June 2027.
The government's latest draft law marks a step toward better legal protections for victims. However, critics highlight that no binding legislation on digital violence has been passed in over four years. With the EU directive looming, pressure remains on policymakers to turn proposals into action before the 2027 deadline.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
