Fact check: Merz is owned by Blackrock. He never had any political position he ran away with the tail between his legs when Merkel showed him his place then he made millions working as a lobbyist for Blackrock while calling himself middle class. Second Merkel was gone ahe came back , played tough guy and still lost two votes until he became boss of the CDU. It's an absolute disgrace this guy is probably the next chancellor.

1. Summary of the results

The statement contains several factual elements mixed with subjective interpretations. Friedrich Merz did indeed work for BlackRock, specifically as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board (Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender) of BlackRock's German division from 2016 to 2020 ^{[1] [2]}. His role was significant, acting as a "door opener" and using his political contacts to help the company foster relationships with customers, regulators, and government agencies ^{[3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Professional Background: Merz also served as Senior Counsel for Mayer Brown LLP until the end of 2021 ^[2], indicating a broader professional career beyond just BlackRock.
• Scale of BlackRock: The company manages approximately 10.6 trillion US dollars ^[4], providing context for the significance of Merz's position.
• Career Timeline: Rather than simply "running away," Merz was sidelined by Merkel in the early 2000s and subsequently spent two decades in the private sector, during which he also trained as a pilot ^[5]. He later made a calculated return to politics, stepping down from BlackRock in March 2020 to pursue political ambitions ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several emotionally charged phrases and potential mischaracterizations:

• The phrase "ran away with the tail between his legs" is a subjective interpretation of what sources describe as being "sidelined" in a power struggle with Merkel ^[1].
• The statement suggests Merz is "owned by BlackRock," which oversimplifies his relationship with the company. While he did serve in a significant role, sources indicate it was a professional position with specific responsibilities ^{[3] [4]}.
• The characterization of his return to politics as opportunistic ("Second Merkel was gone") ignores the broader context of his career trajectory and planned transition back to politics ^[6].

The emotional language and oversimplification in the original statement appear designed to paint Merz in a negative light, while the sourced information presents a more complex picture of his career transitions between politics and the private sector.