The German leader made a plea for people to think critically using facts rather than emotion, in statements seen as a nudge towards the new US President.

Chancellor Angela Merkel held a reception on Monday at the Chancellery to celebrate the “royal couples” chosen in each state for the Karneval season next month.

Merkel welcomed Karneval’s traditional critical and satirical eye towards politicians, calling it refreshing, and also warned in general about propaganda campaigns of fake news being emphasized over facts.

“They like to satirize us politicians. That is a part of the occupational hazards of my field. But I can live with it – very well,” Merkel said.

She added that Karneval satirists bring political parties into high spirits and tear people away from their daily grind “in a world that is more complicated than we would wish”.

“One can laugh about things that are otherwise meant for crying.”

And while US President Donald Trump has drummed up debate about “alternative facts” after a dispute about the size of the crowd at his inauguration, Merkel made a plea for sticking to the truth.

“There needs to be an understanding of persuading people with facts instead of fakes,” Merkel said, speaking generally.

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