German Chancellor and CDU party leader Friedrich Merz is facing significant backlash from his political opponents after rejecting calls to fly a Pride flag at the Bundestag, which he said was "not a circus tent where any flag could be hoisted".
In an appearance on public broadcaster ARD on Tuesday, Merz defended his party's lawmakers and Bundestag President Julia Klöckner — who previously declined to display the rainbow flag for Christopher Street Day on 26 July — saying the banner should only be flown on 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia.
