Overview
- At a visit to Baden-Württemberg, the chancellor refused to retract or further elaborate on his wording, saying the meaning was already clarified after his Monday remark to reporters to “ask your daughters.”
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Bavaria’s Markus Söder defended Merz, with Dobrindt calling changes to city life from illegal migration a fact and Söder dismissing criticism as a left-wing campaign.
- CDU social-wing chief Dennis Radtke rebuked the framing, arguing deportations will not fix issues like addiction, homelessness or youth swagger, while Baden-Württemberg CDU leader Manuel Hagel urged verbal de-escalation.
- SPD leaders accused Merz of divisive rhetoric, and police confirmed a registered “We are the daughters” protest at the CDU headquarters in Berlin after earlier demonstrations at the Brandenburg Gate.
- Coverage set the dispute against crime data showing 41.8% non-German suspects in 2024 and against strong AfD polling before 2026 state elections, with some Green voices urging frank discussion without blanket accusations of racism.