Germany's Merz and soccer: A PR move that backfired
"You've inspired us," read a post by Chancellor Merz on X right after Germany's lackluster performance and early elimination from the FIFA World Cup. It
"You've inspired us," read a post by Chancellor Merz on X right after Germany's lackluster performance and early elimination from the FIFA World Cup. It is seen as a communication blunder that has repercussions. "Helpless, frustrating, second-rate": These were the comments on social media following yet another early exit by the German men's national soccer team from a World Cup. In the capital, Berlin, the disappointment was palpable early Tuesday morning. Eliminated by Paraguay after a lackluster performance, the team lost in a penalty shootout. The reaction from the Federal Chancellery came in the middle of the night in Germany, immediately after the match had ended. "Even though the elimination hurts: What a game! With your dedication and team spirit at this World Cup, you've inspired our country. We're proud of you," read Chancellor Friedrich Merz's post. Pride, dedication, even enthusiasm? Many were left scratching their heads asking whether Merz actually watched the same game as roughly 16 million Germans who had stayed up late to watch the elimination live around 2 a.m. (CET)?
Clearly, these fans haven't been exactly "inspired" by Germany's poor World Cup showing Image: Tom Weller/dpa/picture alliance The post drew scathing comments. Even from Moscow, where Kirill Dmitriev, a confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote on European Parliament lawmaker Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann wrote she didn't know which was worse: the team's performance or the chancellor's reaction. Chancellor's office cites a communication glitch The Chancellor's Office, meanwhile spoke of a "coordination error," which the Chancellor's Office itself described as "unfortunately very annoying." Several media outlets in the capital reported that even before the game, multiple drafts of a post had been written in response, and then a young social media assistant had press the wrong button in the night. Germany's largest tabloid, Bild, devoted nearly an entire page on Wednesday to the chancellor's reaction to the soccer match. The headline read: "Anger over Chancellor's own goal after World Cup exit." On Wednesday, Deputy Government Spokesperson Sebastian Hille told journalists in Berlin that Merz had indeed watched the game live, adding: "Of course, the Chancellor is disappointed by the German national team's elimination from the World Cup.
Just like every one of the millions of soccer fans in Germany." The chancellor then published a second post: "We celebrate successes together. And in defeat, we stand together. That is what makes us strong. Anyone who wears the federal eagle on their chest deserves our support, not our ridicule." Political pundits regularly point out how a sitting government will benefit from the upbeat mood created by success on the world stage of Germans' most beloved sport The debate over the mismanaged social media posts come at a time when the chancellor's popularity is already at an all-time low. In early June, 87% of respondents in a representative ARD-Deutschlandtrend survey conducted by the polling institute "infratest-dimap" were dissatisfied with the government's performance — a new record high. The reasons for this are complex and: The economy has been in crisis for years, and Germany is struggling with a dilapidated infrastructure. The electorate is skeptical about whether the reforms that have been announced, for example for the underfunded pension and healthcare systems, can truly succeed.
The BriefWire