A fake video claiming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to resign circulates online, prompting concern in Berlin. According to a security source, the clip appears to be professionally produced and is presented in a way that closely mimics the branding of German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
German security services assess that a Russia-linked influence operation is the most likely source of the misinformation. While the reports do not identify the specific group or provide additional evidence in the accounts cited, both outlets describe the case as part of broader online manipulation efforts attributed to Russian-linked actors.
The two articles align on the core facts: the existence of the false resignation clip, its resemblance to Deutsche Welle branding, and the attribution to a Russia-linked group by German security services. Differences in the coverage mainly reflect wording and emphasis rather than substantive disagreements about events.
