Germany’s chancellor is obliged to serve the German people. They take an oath to do so. However, the German Constitution doesn't explicitly require the chancellor to always tell the truth. Nonetheless, citizens expect transparency and honesty from their political leaders — especially a chancellor.
Perhaps this is naive.
In her legendary work, 'Truth and Lies in Politics,' Hannah Arendt warned us to be cautious and not adhere to the standards of the Bible in the inner chambers of power.
No one, as far as I know, has ever counted truthfulness among the political virtues. Lies have always been regarded as necessary and justifiable tools not only of the politician’s or the demagogue’s but also of the statesman’s trade.
German Chancellor Olaf "Pinocchio" Scholz is no different. He has lost touch with reality — and with the truth.
Here are eight instances where Scholz was blatantly untruthful:
Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor © The Pioneer#1 Those Hard-Working Germans?
Scholz says:
Last year, German workers worked more hours than ever before.
The truth: German workers, who used to be famous for their work ethic, have fallen behind internationally. Never before have German workers worked fewer hours than last year.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Germany’s Workload Dwindles
Annual full-time and part-time working hours on average
#2 Booming Direct Investment?
Scholz says:
We witness cutting-edge direct investments in Germany, with the largest in European history taking place right here in Magdeburg.
The truth: Scholz is proudly referring to Intel's investment in Magdeburg, which he paid for with €10 billion of taxpayer money. This equals one million euros per new job created. Meanwhile, in 2023, roughly €94 billion in investments poured out of the country.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Germany’s Capital Drain
Annual direct investments in Germany and net outflows, in billion euros
#3 His Economic Growth Fantasy
In March 2023, Scholz said at the annual Internationale Handwerksmesse (eng. International Craft Trade Fair):
I assume Germany is on the brink of a significant growth phase.
In reality, the economy is in gridlock. In terms of growth, Germany is dead last among the G20 nations. The German GDP shrunk by 0.3 percent in 2023. For 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a disappointing growth of only 0.2 percent.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Economic Growth: Merkel vs. Scholz
Year-on-year development of Germany’s GDP and IMF forecast for 2024
#4 No Recollection
While Scholz served as First Mayor, Hamburg's financial authorities intentionally let tax claims against the established Warburg bank expire, totaling €47 million. Another tax claim of €43 million was pursued in 2017, but only after the Federal Ministry of Finance intervened under Wolfgang Schäuble.
When asked about potential meetings between him and Christian Olearius, the CEO of Warburg, Scholz said:
I have no recollection of any.
The truth: The Warburg CEO wrote in his journals about his meeting with Scholz in September 2016:
Christian Olearius © imagoHe makes me feel that he recalls our previous meetings, listens attentively and asks intelligent questions.
On November 19, 2019, Olearius met Scholz at a funeral service at the Hamburg Theatre. In his journal, he writes:
Outside, I shake hands with the mayor and briefly say, ‘Thank you.’
#5 Empty Immigration Regulation Promise
Scholz said in an interview with the German outlet SPIEGEL:
We will curb illegal immigration to Germany. Too many are coming.
The truth: Even more are coming. Illegal immigration has not decreased. Instead, it surged year-on-year in 2023 by 39 percent, with 35.500 more people entering the country compared to 2022.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Illegal Immigration
Registered illegal border crossings into Germany
#6 Party Support?
Scholz claims the Social Democratic Party (SPD) backs him:
I have the full support of my party. This includes party leadership, the state chapters and the parliamentary caucus.
The truth: The youth organization of the SPD, which holds a seat in party leadership, publicly objects:
When the chancellor claims that the SPD collectively and unanimously stands by this rigid deportation policy, I can confidently say: This is not true,
… says Philipp Türmer, chairman of the Young Socialists. On X, he wrote about Scholz’s SPIEGEL interview:
Chairman of the Young Socialists Philipp Türmer © imagoThis statement makes me sick.
#7 The Broken Dream of a Home
Scholz says:
This I can’t stress enough: We will stay committed to our goal of boosting the number of new homes by 400,000 by the end of this term.
The truth: Construction of residential housing is regressive. Since Scholz took office in December 2021, the number of permits issued per month has plummeted by 39 percent. The Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research estimates that by the end of 2024, only 225,000 new apartments will be completed.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Home Construction in Crisis
Monthly issued permits for housing units in residential and non-residential buildings, in thousands
#8 Bad Approval Ratings
Scholz says:
The current government’s track record is recognized as good.
Eine Infografik mit dem Titel: Approval Ratings: Merkel Stays Ahead
Poll numbers on the public perception of Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, in percent
The truth: Olaf Scholz has the lowest approval ratings for an incumbent chancellor that the public broadcasting network ARD has ever recorded since it started polling country-wide in 1997. In comparison, Angela Merkel scored 68 percent in the very last poll of her final term, almost double that of Scholz, who can only convince 37 percent of German voters.
Conclusion: Truth is powerless, and thus, power will always prevail, just as Hannah Arendt warned us. At the same time, however, she reminds us that the truth is irreplaceable, enduring and eternal.
Hannah Arendt © imagoPersuasion and violence can destroy truth; they cannot replace it.
Nuclear Energy Exit: Did Robert Habeck Tell the Truth?
For the Pioneer Podcast, we spoke with Thomas Lemke, the CEO of Sana Kliniken AG, about Karl Lauterbach’s hospital reform.
Madonna plays her biggest show yet at Copacabana.
Before attending a special Energy Committee session, Economic Minister Robert Habeck answered some journalist’s questions. During this press conference, he claimed the nuclear power plant operators pressured him to phase out nuclear energy. In March 2022, the companies informed him that the fuel rods were "spent" and that continued power generation beyond the stretch operation was not feasible:
The whole thing has always been questioned, and my department and I have proactively led the debate. So, we approached the nuclear power plant operators before the start of the war and asked: ‘Is there anything you can do? Do you still have a chance?’
Habeck's claims are false, say two of the companies involved. In a letter to their employees published in Bild, PreussenElektra states:
Dr. Guido Knott, CEO of PreussenElektra GmbH © dpaWe at PreussenElektra have always been open to an examination and implementation of continued operation and have articulated this wherever possible.
And E.ON writes:
We have made it clear throughout the debate that we could technically and logistically enable continued power plant operation if the federal government so desires.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that the operators had made it very clear that uninterrupted, continued operation would not have been possible. A spokesperson told Bild:
EnBW, E.ON and RWE stated at the end of February/beginning of March 2022 that continuously operating the plants would not increase electricity production.
The Background: A report from the magazine Cicero is causing a stir. They presented a document from Habeck’s ministry from March 2022, recommending at least considering the continued operation of the nuclear power plants. Habeck claims to have never seen this document.
Conclusion: The suspicion arises that the Green Party program was executed here without regard for the experts and by accepting an increase in CO2 emissions.
On Friday evening, Matthias Ecke, the Saxon Social Democratic Party (SDP) lead candidate for the European Parliament elections, was attacked and seriously injured by four unknown assailants while putting up election posters in Dresden. A 17-year-old has since confessed to the crime in the presence of his mother at the Dresden police station — motive unclear.
Due to severe injuries to his face from kicks and punches, Ecke had to undergo surgery and is reportedly doing well.
There is widespread sympathy. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser intends to convene a special session in the coming days to discuss protective measures at the federal and state levels in light of increasing attacks on politicians.
Innenministerin Nancy Faeser © dpaShe states:
If a politically motivated attack on Matthias Ecke is confirmed just weeks before the European elections, then this serious act of violence is also a severe attack on democracy. We are witnessing a new dimension of anti-democratic violence here.
Chancellor Scholz also expressed shock at the incident on X:
Nonchalantly accepting such incidents is never an option.
The hospital system in Germany has become a patient itself. It is overwhelmed, inefficient and too expensive. Many hospitals are facing closure. According to the German Hospital Federation, there have been almost 50 bankruptcies since July 2022.
Health Minister Prof. Karl Lauterbach is advocating for a reform that primarily aims to bolster larger, more centralized hospitals, a strategy he believes will help alleviate the current crisis.
Click here to listen to today’s Pioneer Podcast.For the Pioneer Podcast, I spoke with Thomas Lemke about this. He is the CEO of Sana Kliniken AG, which operates 51 hospitals with 35,000 employees and generates around three billion euros in revenue annually.
Thomas Lemke, CEO of Sana Kliniken AG © sanaLemke views the reform critically. He says Karl Lauterbach's calculation doesn’t add up:
One thing is clear: Regardless of the number of beds and the size of hospitals in Germany, we will see an aging society with increasing case numbers, which will cost us significantly more overall. It is a mistake to think that everything will become cheaper.
In the Pioneer Podcast this morning, you can listen to the details in German. This way!
The Israeli cabinet has decided to close the offices of the Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera in Israel. In doing so, the government is implementing a law passed last month that allows it to ban media that would endanger the country's national security. Netanyahu had previously called Al Jazeera a "mouthpiece of Hamas" and spoke yesterday on X of a "smear channel."
Raid on the offices of Al Jazeera in Jerusalem © imagoIn concrete terms, this means that Al Jazeera "will no longer broadcast in Israel, and its equipment will be confiscated," said Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in a video statement.
Al Jazeera's reaction: The broadcaster itself spoke of "defamation" and accused Israel of denying people's basic right to access information. It will continue to do everything it can "to make our services available to the public worldwide."
Far-reaching consequences: Al Jazeera's headquarters are in Qatar. The decision could complicate Israel's relations with Qatar, which plays a central role in mediating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Monday:
Chancellor Scholz travels to Lithuania and Latvia.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Federal Party Congress starts with board elections in Berlin. The main speaker will be Friedrich Merz.
After nearly five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping visits France as part of a European tour. He will also travel to Serbia and Hungary, partner countries in China's "New Silk Road" project.
Tuesday:
In the afternoon, Scholz receives Denis Bećirović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Federal Chancellery.
Quarterly Profits: DHL Group, Electronic Arts, Ferrari, Heidelberg Materials, Infineon, Sixt, UBS, Uniper, Walt Disney and Zalando.
Wednesday:
Finnish President Alexander Stubb © imagoIn the afternoon, Scholz receives Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Federal Chancellery.
As usual, the Cabinet meets under the leadership of the Chancellor.
The Federal Statistical Office publishes the March production data for the manufacturing sector.
Quarterly Profits: 1&1, Airbnb, BMW, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Continental, Evonik, Fresenius, Henkel, Lanxess, Munich Re, Puma and Siemens Energy.
Thursday:
Holidays! Christians commemorate the ascension of Jesus as the Son of God 40 days after Easter, while others celebrate Father's Day.
Friday:
Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of Borussia Dortmund © dpaQuarterly Earnings: Borussia Dortmund, Honda Motor and Mazda Motor.
Free Concert: Pop star Madonna has chosen a special finale for her world tour. A free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. According to media reports, more than 1.5 million people responded to the call of the Queen of Pop, making the concert the largest of Madonna's 40-year career.
Spectacle on Copacabana Beach © dpaThe Queen of Pop traveled in style, using three airplanes and 270 tons of equipment to perform on an 800-square-meter stage.
Happy fans, happy city officials: According to the city administration, the anticipated increase in tourist numbers was projected to generate revenues of 293 million Reais (approximately €53 million) for the state treasury.
Madonna (2nd from left) at the final show of her "The Celebration Tour" © dpaFree concert, high fee: Madonna received approximately three million euros for her performance. Simply put, it was a successful evening.
Wishing you a wonderful start to your week. Stay informed. Stay with me.
Best wishes,