# Fact check: Germany's Merz misstates record in ARD interview

https://mins.news/en/item/37843

- DW, 2026-08-30 19:53 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-germany-s-merz-misstates-record-in-ard-interview/a-78566319?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

> Chancellor Friedrich Merz made several misleading claims about migration, debt and electric vehicles during his ARD summer interview. DW found that first-time asylum applications had fallen, but not by the 60% he cited; Germany sits mid-table in the eurozone for debt, while its AAA rating is shared with several other countries.

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