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Entrepreneur Maschmeyer calls for Chancellor Merz's resignation, citing his own past criticism of Scholz
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Following the AfD's strong performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, where the party secured 43.8% of the vote, entrepreneur and investor Carsten Maschmeyer has publicly called for the resignation of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). In a video recorded in front of the Reichstag building and on social media, Maschmeyer holds Merz to his own past criticism of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Maschmeyer recalls that in February 2025, Merz accused Scholz of strengthening the AfD, arguing the party's rise from 10% to 20.8% was the result of Scholz's policy. Maschmeyer now applies the same standard to Merz, stating that while a state election cannot be fully equated with a federal one, Merz set that benchmark himself. Maschmeyer, who previously supported the CDU with a large donation, also criticized Merz's leadership style as arrogant and lecturing, and accused him of seeking the chancellorship for ego-driven reasons. He further argued that the government has failed to implement sufficient reforms on bureaucracy, energy prices, and economic modernization, asserting that Germany has a leadership problem, not a business problem.
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Source: picture alliance/Geisler-Fotopress | Clemens Niehaus/Geisler-Fotopres
Following the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, entrepreneur and investor Carsten Maschmeyer has intensified his criticism of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), demanding his resignation and holding him to his own past statements about Olaf Scholz.
Maschmeyer's Direct Challenge to Merz
In a video recorded in front of the Reichstag building, Maschmeyer addressed the chancellor directly:
"Mr. Merz, do you still remember your own words?"
Maschmeyer recalled that in February 2025, Merz had accused then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz of strengthening the AfD through his policies. At that time, Merz noted that the AfD entered the Bundestag with around ten percent in 2021 and reached 20.8 percent after three years of the traffic light coalition.
"Now you are chancellor yourself," Maschmeyer said, pointing to the AfD's result of 43.8 percent in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
Holding Merz to His Own Standard
While Maschmeyer acknowledged that a state election cannot be equated with a federal election, and that a chancellor cannot be held solely responsible for citizens' voting behavior, he stated:
"You set this standard. Back then, Olaf Scholz had to be measured against the numbers. Today, you must also."
Previous Criticism on "Maischberger"
Maschmeyer had already sharply attacked the CDU leader on the ARD talk show "Maischberger," saying:
- "Merz has completely messed it up. He must go. He must resign."
- The chancellor had "steered the ship wrong. He must step down from the bridge."
Criticism of Merz's Motives and Leadership Style
Maschmeyer, who supported the CDU with a large donation in early 2025, accused Merz of becoming chancellor for the wrong reasons:
"It is now apparent that he wanted to become chancellor for a false reason. It was ego and showing Merkel, 'I am chancellor now.'"
The investor was particularly critical of Merz's leadership style, describing him as:
- Unapproachable
- Lecturing
- A know-it-all
- Arrogant (based on feedback from those who deal with him)
Policy Criticisms
Maschmeyer also criticized the federal government on key policy issues, stating that reforms in the following areas have been insufficiently implemented:
- Bureaucracy reduction
- Energy prices
- Economic modernization
He argued that Germany does not have a business problem, but a leadership problem. To strengthen the economy, the country needs:
- Competitive taxes
- Less bureaucracy
- Faster approval procedures
On the AfD and Economic Outlook
Maschmeyer stated he does not trust the AfD with better economic policy. Germany requires skilled workers from abroad and better conditions for companies. He also expressed skepticism about current growth forecasts, noting that a large portion of growth is based on credit-financed state investments and is therefore not sustainable.
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