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10 world politicians targeted by satire

Jan Bruck / egApril 12, 2016

German satirist Jan Böhmermann has sparked debates on freedom of speech in Germany with his snide video on Turkish President Erdogan. Here are other politicians around the world who've inspired parody - including Merkel.

https://p.dw.com/p/1ITzL
Carnival float depicting Vladimir Putin, Dusseldorf 2015, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch

In the ZDF television show, "Neo Magazin Royale," Jan Böhmermann recently presented a snide, satirical poem, in which he criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's limitations on freedom of speech in Turkey, while also making personal jabs at the president, including references to child pornography and sex with animals.

As a result, Erdogan has filed a legal claim against Böhmermann, who has cancelled his next appearance on "Neo Magazin Royale." Meanwhile, the German government is mulling whether to prosecute the satirist for defamation - which puts Chancellor Merkel in a tight diplomatic position.

As the row continues this week, we look at other leading politicians that have been targeted by satire in the past.