Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the explosion of both physical and digital violence, much of which is attributed to illegal immigrant groups, during a discussion on digital violence against women. His remarks came in the wake of a high-profile complaint by a well-known actress accusing her ex-husband of “digital rape.”

“I do not want to downplay the issue,” Merz said. Responding to criticism, unsurprisingly from the left-wing Greens, that he had strayed from the discussion’s focus, he added: “It’s not only women in this country who discuss and speak about this issue, but many men as well – and I am one of them.”

Merz also highlighted his government’s legislative initiatives, including plans for a law on electronic monitoring through “ankle bracelets” and the storage of IP addresses, measures intended to facilitate the prosecution of crimes in the digital realm.