German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Faces Backlash Over 'Hofnarr' Remark Directed at Black CDU Politician

Scholz denies racial intent behind his comment, while CDU leaders and the affected politician, Joe Chialo, express differing reactions.

Olaf Scholz referred to Berlin's Kultursenator Joe Chialo, who has Tanzanian roots, as a 'Hofnarr' (court jester) during a private event, sparking accusations of racism from CDU members.
Chialo has described the remark as hurtful and demeaning but stated he does not believe Scholz is a racist; the two discussed the incident in a phone call, which Chialo considers closed on his part.
The CDU criticized Scholz heavily, with some party figures calling for an apology, while Scholz and the SPD dismissed the racism allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Scholz admitted to using the term but denied any racial connotation, emphasizing that his comment was not linked to Chialo's skin color and expressing personal dismay over the accusations.
The controversy arises just days before Germany's Bundestag elections, with both parties accusing each other of leveraging the incident for political gain.