21.08.2026 17:10
The fact that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been on vacation since July 29 without appearing in public has sparked debate in the country. While Merz’s approximately four-week silence during a period marked by extreme heat, drought, and wildfires has been criticized in the German press, the government spokespeople’s statement that “The Chancellor is never really on vacation” has not quelled the controversy.
While crises such as extreme heat, drought, and forest fires remain at the forefront of the agenda in Germany, the fact that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not appeared in public for about four weeks has drawn criticism from the German press. Merz's long absence following his last public statement on July 29 has brought the question "Where is the Chancellor?" to the agenda.
VACATION EXTENDED FROM A FEW DAYS TO FOUR WEEKS
The German public broadcaster Tagesschau examined Merz's prolonged silence. The report recalled that the Chancellor withdrew from the public eye on July 29 with the words "Have good holidays, goodbye," while criticizing that the vacation, initially expected to last a few days, has reached approximately four weeks.
During the period when Merz was not seen in public, significant developments occurred in Germany, such as extreme heat, drought, forest fires, and falling water levels in rivers. The discovery of a drone, assessed to contain an explosive device, at Leipzig-Halle Airport also brought security debates to the country.
HE REMAINED SILENT WHILE CRISES UNFOLDED
The German press particularly questioned why Merz did not make public statements in the face of these developments. The Chancellor's prolonged silence during a politically difficult period increased criticism from the public.
The fact that Merz's statements were largely limited to social media posts also became a topic of debate. It was argued that the Chancellor should be more visible, especially on the topics of natural disasters and security.
GOVERNMENT: THE CHANCELLOR IS NEVER REALLY ON VACATION
Questions about where Merz is and how long his vacation will last were also directed at government spokespersons. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sebastian Hille, at a press conference held in Berlin on August 19, took a distant stance toward the statement that the Chancellor is on vacation.
Hille argued that the absence of public events for Merz does not mean he has left his duties to rest, saying, "The concepts of Chancellor and vacation don't really fit together because a chancellor is never on vacation."
Stating that the Chancellor is in regular communication with cabinet members, Hille said Merz is dealing with party matters and continues his contacts with heads of state and government of other countries.
ZDF: STATEMENTS BECAME "PHILOSOPHICAL"
ZDF, on the other hand, drew attention to the fact that Merz has not appeared in public for more than three weeks. The report commented that government spokespersons avoided clearly stating that Merz is on vacation and that the statements made increasingly took on a "philosophical" character.
It was suggested that the Chancellery gave the impression that it did not want to admit that Merz genuinely needed rest.
"GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR IS MISSED"
NDR also joined the debate with the headline "Is the Chancellor constantly on vacation, what is he doing?" The report highlighted that it is not clearly known where Merz is and when he will return to Germany.
The Chancellor's failure to appear before the public during a period when developments such as hot weather, forest fires, and the drone incident at Leipzig-Halle Airport occurred became the focus of criticism.
STERN: DOES HE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS?
Stern magazine, however, brought the debate to the agenda with a more direct question: "Does he have the right to do this?"
The magazine questioned why Merz's absence from the public eye since July 29 has caused so much reaction and the reasons behind his long disappearance.
On the other hand, there is no legally defined vacation period for the Chancellor in Germany. It is also noted that there is no upper limit set in the legislation regarding how long Merz can rest.
HIS OWN WORDS WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE DEBATE
In its commentary titled "Three lessons from the XL vacation," Spiegel magazine recalled Merz's previous statements that Germans should work more and more efficiently.
The magazine debated whether the Chancellor's long vacation contradicts his own rhetoric on work and productivity.
"IS THE CHANCELLOR THE CHIEF FREELANCER?"
The Zeit newspaper also criticized Merz's long absence from the public eye under the headline "Chancellor, or Chief Freelancer?"
The report stated that the question "Where is the Chancellor?" is increasingly coming to the fore on social media and in the German press. It emphasized that the public is curious about Merz's views, especially at a time when the country is facing hot weather, drought, fires, and security issues.
At the center of the debate in the German press is not so much Merz's right to take a vacation, but rather the question of to what extent the chancellor should be visible during a period of crises.