Overview
- 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.