
This is your weekly reminder that just because the Europeans do wounded vanity, umbrage, and virtue-signaling lectures so much better than we do doesn’t necessarily mean that what is issuing forth from their sanctimonious streusel holes matches what their barely restrained authoritarian instincts are doing in actuality.
One of the best ways to highlight the dual nature of their conflicted existence is to pick some of the subjects that constitute their favorite defensive posturing. A couple that are really getting worn out in tussles against the Americans are ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy.’ These are often used interchangeably, or, even better, when they combine them for what Europeans perceive as a coup de grâce argument-ender.
This is all well and good posturing in the Never Never Land of diplomatic sword crossing for public effect. But in the trenches, streets, and homes of regular citizens, mayhap things look a little different than the rosy, beatific picture of pastoral freedoms and hives of honey-laden democracy painted by the Brussels Brahmins from their castles.
A prime example has surfaced.
I’ve often written of the skeletal, scarecrowish, bespectacled creature who clings with bony fingers to visions of wielding outsized international influence even as he reigns over the meltdown of his own once prosperous and mighty economy as Chancellor of Germany. From the very beginning, from the day after his election, in fact, I dubbed the risible Friedrich Merz ‘Master of the Old Magoo‘ in reference to his chameleon-like ability to change his colors – and dump his promises – at a moment’s notice.
This conscience-free, unscrupulous, ethically unconcerned style of governance has not gone unnoticed or is much appreciated by Germans themselves, and imagine that. It’s kind of like being a dewy-eyed Spanberger or Mamdani voter right about now, only Germany is more of a police state trying to deal with it.
Did I say that?
*checks notes*
Why, yes. Yes, I did.
Where you can rightfully call Commie Mamdani or the CIA Spook Lady whatever your little gullible heart desires, as you work through rage at what you feel is a betrayal of promises any sane person knew they’d no intention of ever keeping – so shame on you, dummy – it’s quite a different story in Germany.
In that country, politicians of any stripe are a protected class.
Stupid or spoiled.
WHAT’S GOING ON???
A 59 year old man in Germany has been fined €1500.
His crime?
Insulting a Green party politician on social media by calling her a “spoiled chick”.
Free speech in Europe is under attack.
— PeterSweden (@PeterSweden7) November 19, 2024
Or fat.
German police have ordered the social media platform Gab to reveal the identity of one its users.
The man is suspected of having called the leader of the German Green Party “fat” pic.twitter.com/BLbZru3pAc
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 2, 2024
Once they tracked THAT GUY down, he was facing a €6000 fine until the case was finally dismissed.
Weird that the German government also believes the process can be the punishment, even when it was an uncomfortable personal comment.
🇩🇪 FAMOUSLY “FAT-SHAMED” MP LOST WEIGHT
Calling Green Party MP Ricarda Lang fat resulted in a police investigation.
Now she has lost weight, proving that the Gab user who “fat-shamed” her was merely stating a fact.
The justice system is broken.
Congrats on the weight loss. pic.twitter.com/9LsvdUcWGS
— Naomi Seibt (@NaomiSeibt) January 23, 2025
But now the insults have broken a glass ceiling, and the Polizei are banging on a door for someone speaking directly to the truth, albeit in a humorous fashion. A Facebook comment about a humorless subject – the Old Magoo master himself, and his penchant for promisorial pivots.
Don’t you dare call the lying German Chancellor ‘Pinocchio.’
Pensioner facing police investigation for the crime of calling serially dishonest German Chancellor Friedrich Merz “Pinocchio”
In the latest retarded case of political repression to afflict the Federal Republic of Germany, police are investigating a pensioner for the crime of associating the German Chancellor with an iconic children’s book character.
When … Friedrich Merz and Baden-Württemberg Minister President Winfried Kretschmann came to Heilbronn last October for the opening ceremony of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), the celebrity visit occasioned discussion discussion on social media.
A post appeared on the Heilbronn Police Facebook page informing locals about a temporary flight ban enacted for security during the visit. A resident of Heilbronn responded by writing that “Pinocchio is coming to [Heilbronn].” He included a long-nosed emoji.
Three months later, at the end of January, the man could hardly believe his eyes as he received a letter from the criminal police informing him that he is now under investigation for his comment. He is suspected of committing the crime of insult as prohibited by Section 188 of the Criminal Code.
COMMITTING THE CRIME OF INSULT
🇩🇪 German police have launched an investigation against a pensioner who called Chancellor Friedrich Merz “Pinocchio” in a Facebook comment.
The man wrote “Pinocchio is coming to HN” under a police post announcing a visit by Merz and Baden-Württemberg’s PM Winfried Kretschmann.… pic.twitter.com/GPEqVjyXdR
— Europa.com (@europa) February 24, 2026
This could have been a tactical error on Merz and his defenders’ part, as many, many outraged Germans are having a whale of a time explaining just how similar, if not far worse, than Pinocchio Merz really is.
Ein Rentner in Heilbronn nennt Friedrich Merz “Pinocchio”. Die Polizei erstattet Anzeige. Strafrahmen: bis zu fünf Jahre Gefängnis. Für einen Spitznamen.
Bestrafe einen, erziehe hundert. Die Eskalation hat System: Erst Meldestellen gegen “Hass und Hetze”. Dann Hausdurchsuchungen… pic.twitter.com/DkiyHob0h9
— Anna Nina (@annaninii) February 23, 2026
…Punish one, educate a hundred. The escalation is systemic: First, hotlines against “hate and incitement.” Then, house searches over Habeck memes. Then, giggling prosecutors in Göttingen. Now, criminal complaints because an old man calls the chancellor candidate by the fitting nickname.
Paragraph 188 becomes a weapon against anyone who dares to mock the powerful. In Germany, whoever points out abuses is more dangerous than those who cause them.
Merz gets to promise an entire country the blue sky from heaven before the election, only to break ALL the promises after the election. But woe betide a pensioner who says it out loud. When did criticism of power in this country stop being a fundamental right?
As they point out in most of these angry posts over the incident, in the fairy tale, Pinocchio apologizes for being a liar. Merz has done no such thing, continuing on his merry path of perfidy.
WHEN DID CRITICISM OF POWER IN THIS COUNTRY STOP BEING A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT?
Oh, what a question for a German to ask. We here in America have all been assured you’ve got so much more freedom than we do.
But as for losing the right to criticize, that happened a while ago.
It seems that there’s so much more and many more politicians to criticise now, and they’re terribly thin-skinned about being called out.
So they gave themselves a ‘quiet the peanut gallery’ tool.
…StGB §188 is the notorious “lèse-majesté” statute, which the Bundestag expanded substantially in 2021 when politicians grew tired of being criticised for suspending most of our democratic freedoms in a mad drive to exterminate a respiratory virus. As currently formulated, StGB §188 enhances penalties for “insult, malicious gossip and defamation” when the rabble direct these at “persons in political life,” and also makes these transgressions easier to prosecute. In this case, the pinched schoolmarms on the “social media team” who run the Heilbronn Police Facebook page filed a complaint with prosecutors as soon as they noticed our pensioner’s comment. Apparently it is their policy to monitor comments and cry to teacher whenever they see anything they don’t like.
They are mocking the crap out of Merz and the tattle-tales.
“Frechheit, mich mit Merz zu vergleichen!” – Pinocchio zeigt Heilbronner Rentner an https://t.co/E7oa8MiE9Ehttps://t.co/E7oa8MiE9E
— Der Postillon 📯 (@Der_Postillon) February 23, 2026
…”Outrageous, comparing me to Merz!” – Pinocchio reports Heilbronn pensioner to authorities
Brutal.
Ich präsentiere ein Entlastungsvideo von Merz. #Pinocchio pic.twitter.com/CMmIQKvmAj
— SonderKlarname👀 (@TrustedChecker) February 23, 2026
No wonder they want X shut down.
🇩🇪 German Chancellor Merz:
“I want real names on the internet. I want to know who is speaking. Those who hide behind anonymity demand the greatest transparency from others.”
Brace yourself, censorship in action!pic.twitter.com/GVE8F5as9K https://t.co/909wLZ7dK0
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 19, 2026
SAVING DEMOCRACY BY STRIPPING ONE GERMAN FREEDOM AWAY AT A TIME
🇩🇪 Chancellor Merz on AfD:
“We will not allow these people to ruin our country. We will not allow it.”
Dude, that’s not your decision, and you’re the one ruining Germany.
In a democracy, it’s the voters who decide the country’s future.pic.twitter.com/cXX4uCsrN7 https://t.co/SbOAY7GuNp
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 20, 2026
Banning everything we don’t like.
Warum wird denn gegen den Rentner ermittelt?
Warum hat Pinocchio denn die lange Nase bekommen?
Es war die Strafe fürs Lügen! Merz belügt die Wähler,er ist schlimmer als Pinocchio,denn der hat sich für seine Lügen entschuldigt.Den Vergleich mit Merz sollte P. anzeigen! 😂 pic.twitter.com/Rd1JEuEhVB— Gudrun💙🇩🇪💙🇭🇺💙🇷🇺💙🇦🇹💙🇺🇲💙 (@Kampfeszauber07) February 21, 2026
That’s how the European elite saves democracy from the Europeans.
Editor’s note: If we thought our job in pushing back against the Academia/media/Democrat censorship complex was over with the election, think again. This is going to be a long fight. If you want to join the conversation in the comments — and support independent platforms — why not join our VIP Membership program? Choose VIP to support Hot Air and access our premium content, VIP Gold to extend your access to all Townhall Media platforms and participate in this show, or VIP Platinum to get access to even more content and discounts on merchandise. Use the promo code POTUS47 to join or to upgrade your existing membership level today, and get 74% off!










