Merz, Döpfner und die AfD: Der Kanzler steht auf Springers Abschussliste

The controversy surrounding alleged remarks made by Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE, during a private meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sparked significant debate in German political circles. According to reports from the political podcast "Wenn Sie wüssten..." produced by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Döpfner allegedly urged Merz to consider cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during a one-on-one conversation earlier this year. The claims have been strongly denied by Axel Springer, which called them a "complete lie" and stated that both the course and content of the supposed discussion were fabricated.

The podcast's hosts, Stephan Lamby and RND editor-in-chief Eva Quadbeck, claim they conducted extensive research into the matter alongside Kristina Dunz, vice president of RND in Berlin. They relied on statements from "well-informed individuals" who supposedly learned about the meeting afterward, as well as other circumstantial evidence. According to their account, Döpfner visited Merz in the Chancellery early this year to push him toward opening up to collaboration with the AfD. Merz reportedly refused, stating, "Only over my dead body." When Döpfner persisted, the meeting escalated, leading Merz to abruptly end the conversation. As he left, Döpfner is said to have remarked, "You will regret this."

Axel Springer, which owns media outlets such as the "Bild" newspaper, categorically rejected these allegations. On its social media platform, the company described the suggestion that Döpfner had pressured Merz to cooperate with the AfD as an "absurd lie," emphasizing that both the sequence and substance of the conversation were entirely invented. Additionally, the company pointed out that similar claims had circulated among journalists in Berlin as early as November 2025, nearly a year before the alleged meeting took place in early 2026. This led the media conglomerate to accuse the situation of being part of a long-planned smear campaign against Döpfner.

The federal government declined to comment on whether the meeting between Merz and Döpfner occurred or whether Döpfner actually said, "You will regret this," when leaving. A spokesperson for the government stated that they generally do not provide information about non-public appointments of the chancellor, regardless of whether they took place or not. During a press conference, deputy government spokesman Sebastian Hille dismissed the content of the podcast as "absurd rumors."

RND editor-in-chief Quadbeck confirmed that they had confronted Axel Springer with the statements from their sources regarding the course of the conversation. However, she noted that the publisher did not offer a specific response to the details of the meeting but instead issued a general statement denying that Döpfner wanted any form of cooperation between the Union and the AfD, calling it "total nonsense."

According to the podcast, there may have already been discussions around the time of the 2024/25 federal election campaign between Merz and Döpfner, where the latter allegedly pushed the former to explore some kind of cooperation with the AfD. These claims are based on indirect evidence rather than direct proof, making the situation highly contentious and speculative.

The potential relationship between Axel Springer and the AfD appears to be more complex than just the alleged private meeting. Reports indicate that Springer-owned publications such as "Bild" and "Welt" have openly advocated for closer ties with the AfD in recent months. For instance, "Bild" editor-in-chief Marion Horn wrote a commentary criticizing the "firewall" policy, suggesting that the AfD should be allowed to participate in politics under certain conditions. Similarly, "Bild" published a survey showing that 84 percent of its readers support cooperation with the AfD. Another editorial praised a young entrepreneur for challenging the status quo and calling for more boldness from business leaders.

Elon Musk, a prominent American tech mogul known for his controversial views, also contributed to the narrative by publishing an article in "Welt" in December 2024, where he referred to the AfD as the last hope for Europe. His comments align with broader trends indicating a growing influence of right-wing ideologies within certain sectors of the media and business communities.

This situation highlights the deepening rift between Chancellor Merz and Axel Springer, which seems to extend beyond mere speculation about a single private meeting. It raises questions about the role of major media conglomerates in shaping public discourse and influencing political dynamics in Germany. While the truth behind the alleged encounter remains unclear, the ongoing debate underscores the sensitivity of issues related to the AfD and the potential implications for Germany’s political landscape.