BSW expert says Merz could draw Germany into conflict with Russia
In short
A foreign policy expert from Germany's BSW party, identified by TASS as Dagdelen, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is prepared to drag Germany into a conflict with Russia in order to lift his poll ratings, and that the German government should resign. RIA Novosti reported the same expert saying Merz is almost ready to involve Germany in a war with Russia. Both reports were published by Russian state outlets within two minutes of each other.
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An expert from Germany's BSW party, identified by TASS as Dagdelen, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is prepared to drag Germany into a conflict with Russia in order to raise his poll ratings, and said the German government should resign, describing it as intoxicated by war. TASS published the claim at 19:15 local time. [ 1 ]
RIA Novosti reported the same expert at 19:17 local time, saying Merz is almost ready to involve Germany in a war with Russia. The two accounts differ in wording: TASS says the expert called Merz ready and used the word conflict, while RIA Novosti says almost ready and used the word war. Neither document names a location or an occasion for the statement, and neither reports any response from Merz or the German government. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The statements come from a figure in Germany's opposition BSW party and were carried by two Russian state outlets, giving them a wider audience in Russia than in Germany. Beyond the claim itself, the reports offer no indication of any official German or Russian response, so their practical impact is unclear.
Key facts
- An expert identified as Dagdelen, described as a foreign policy expert of Germany's BSW party, said Merz is prepared to involve Germany in a conflict with Russia to raise his ratings. [ 1 ]
- The expert said the German government, which she described as intoxicated by war, should resign. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reported the same expert saying Merz is almost ready to involve Germany in a war with Russia. [ 2 ]
- TASS reported Merz is ready to draw Germany into a conflict with Russia; RIA Novosti used the wording almost ready and war, rather than conflict. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The expert is named only as Dagdelen by TASS; RIA Novosti does not name her. Only one document identifies her, and neither document gives her full name or position beyond her party affiliation.
- Whether Merz is ready, or only almost ready, to involve Germany in a conflict with Russia. The two documents describe the same claim with different wording, ready in TASS and almost ready in RIA Novosti.
- Where and when the expert made the statement. Neither document gives a location or an occasion, only publication times.
- Any reaction from the German government or from Merz. Neither document reports a response.