Angela Merkel says that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed those who rely on 'fact-denying populism' as she criticised world leaders who promoted 'lies and disinformation.'.
'We are seeing at the moment that the pandemic can't be fought with lies and disinformation, and neither can it be with hatred and agitation,' she said.
Merkel's comments could be interpreted as a thinly-veiled swipe at leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who have both sought to downplay the dangers of the virus.
Angela Merkel has told a meeting of European countries that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the limits of "fact-denying populism" as she criticised world leaders who promoted "lies and disinformation.".
"We are seeing at the moment that the pandemic can't be fought with lies and disinformation, and neither can it be with hatred and agitation," Merkel told the European Parliament on Thursday, according to French news agency France24.
She urged leaders to compromise and agree on a plan, telling parliament: "The depth of the economic decline demands that we hurry.
That will require a lot of readiness to compromise from all sides - and from you too. »
