Günther Jauch Drops Friedrich Merz’s Historic ‘Tax Beer Coaster’ During Live Debate

The museum artifact, symbolizing Merz's 2003 tax reform proposal, was unharmed despite the mishap in the televised election debate.

The beer coaster, on which Friedrich Merz outlined his simplified tax system in 2003, was featured during RTL's 'Quadrell' debate with four German chancellor candidates.
Moderator Günther Jauch accidentally dropped the museum loan item while presenting it, but the artifact was confirmed undamaged by the House of History in Bonn.
The coaster, described as a robust piece of history, has been preserved in the museum as a symbol of Merz's call for tax system simplification, though Merz now advocates for a digital app instead.
The incident highlighted the challenges museums face in balancing artifact preservation with public accessibility, as noted by the museum's director.
The debate, involving candidates from the CDU, SPD, Greens, and AfD, used the coaster as a segue into discussions on tax policy and broader election issues.