"It was very strange for me": Lübcke's widow sharply criticises Merz after campaign appearance

Friedrich Merz expressed his anger at demonstrators during an election campaign appearance - and pointed to the lack of solidarity after the murder of Walter Lübcke. His widow now strongly contradicts Merz's account.

Following election campaign statements by CDU leader Friedrich Merz about the Union politician Walter Lübcke, who was murdered by a right-wing extremist, his widow has spoken out. "Friedrich Merz's statement on Saturday at the joint CSU and CDU election campaign finale in Munich was very strange to my family and me and I do not want to leave it as it is," wrote Irmgard Braun-Lübcke in a statement reported by the "Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine".

After the Germany-wide demonstrations against the right, which were directed against Merz and the CDU, among others, in the weeks before the federal election, the candidate for chancellor said at the end of the election campaign last Saturday: "I'll ask all those who are out there, Antifa and against the right: Where were they when Walter Lübcke was murdered in Kassel by a right-wing radical?"

According to the newspaper, Irmgard Braun-Lübcke now points out that, contrary to this portrayal, "after my husband's murder, there was a strong, broad social commitment to our democracy and its values." Thousands of people took to the streets. They included left-wing, liberal and conservative democrats: "Together they clearly positioned themselves against violence, hatred and incitement and clearly for democracy, freedom and humanity. This gave us a lot of strength as a family and showed that we are not alone, you are not alone, we are standing up together for the survival of our democracy."

The statement continues: "Today, in these difficult times, when so much that was previously taken for granted is faltering or no longer valid, we are all called upon more than ever, especially politicians, to bring people together and stand up for values ​​together, as my husband did."

Walter Lübcke was the district president of Kassel and was shot dead by a right-wing extremist on the terrace in front of his house in June 2019.