The free media introduced the "True Unword of the Year" in 2017 because the "old" Unword of the Year unfortunately - like seemingly everything in the "post-factual" FRG - became "left-green filthy" and declared terms to be unwords that were particularly apt and formative for the Merkel era and afterwards: 2014 "Lügenpresse", 2015 "Gutmensch", 2016 "Volksverräter", 2017 "alternative facts", 2018 "anti-deportation industry", 2019 "climate hysteria", 2020 "repatriation sponsorships" and "Corona dictatorship" - When historians one day trace the downfall of the Federal Republic, these will be the chapter headings.

In 2021, they seem to have made a mistake, because with "Pushback" they have awarded a prize to a do-gooder unword that was invented by resourceful NGO lawyers to criminalise "border controls" and has since been used regularly in the "Tagesschau".

Our protest seems to have had an effect, because in 2021 the entire team of the "Unword of the Year" changed. It is now headed by Prof. Dr. Constanze Spieß. Professor of "Pragmalinguistics" at the Institute of German Linguistics at the Philipps University of Marburg, as well as four other completely unknown linguists with similarly cryptic fields of activity. The journalist Alexandra-Katharina Kütemeyer was previously head of the political editorial department of the left-wing extremist antifa-postille "Frankfurter Rundschau" and probably has a similar function as the GDR party cadre in the past.

In addition, the studied experts of the "Unword of the Year" had to turn to the common people and now also offer the possibility to submit suggestions digitally. I wonder if they've copied this from us. In any case, we strongly advise our readers not to spam this friendly offer with funny suggestions.

Fortunately, there is the "True Unword of the Year". We are collecting reader suggestions until 31 December, from which our prominent jury will select 3 favourites. Readers will then have until 9 January 2023 to vote for the winner.  

The jury 2022:

Michael Klein studied political science, economics and philosophy of science, graduated with a master's degree, professional stations: University of Mannheim, TU Dresden, freelance journalist, independent scientific consultant since 2002, permanent resident in UK since 2006. Operator of the largest German-language science blog Sciencefiles. One of the few Germans who understands UK politics.

Matthias Matussek: Award-winning journalist, wrote for Spiegel, Stern and WELT, among others, before joining the independent media; now writes for Tichys Einblick, among others.Has the rare honour of having given notice to his bosses with the words "You crazy asshole". And quite honestly: aren't we all a little envious?

Chaim Noll: Born in Berlin in 1954. Assigned to the GDR in 1961 when the Wall was built. 1972-80 studied in Jena and Berlin, first mathematics, then art and art history. Moved to the West with his wife and children in 1984. Book author, journalist and research assistant at the Free University of Berlin. Moved to Rome in 1991, from there to Israel in 1995. Israeli citizen since 1998. From 1998-2018 lecturer and writer in residence at the Center for German Studies at Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva. Author of numerous books. Most recently: "Der Rufer aus der Wüste: Wie 16 Merkel-Jahre Deutschland ramponiert haben. An Announcement from Exile in Israel." Author for Die Achse des Guten. Disinvited from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Konrad Adenauer Foundation because he was too uncomfortable as a court Jew.

Silke Schröder studied psychology and human resource management in London, U.K. and worked as a human resources manager. In 2011, she founded the real estate consultancy PRIMOBILIA. In addition, she specialises as a coach in the field of positive psychology and advises her clients on leadership and life issues. Since 2015, she has been involved in socio-political issues and has become known to a wider audience through her contributions to the Deutschland Kurier as a columnist. She also writes for media such as the Epoch Times and the Jüdische Rundschau. Silke Schröder hosts the talk show 'Politicum' on TV Berlin and organises the private salon format 'Der konservative Aperitif' in Berlin.

Sven von Storch: Born in Chile in 1970. Founded the Göttingen Students for the Rule of Law in 1996 and the Alliance for the Rule of Law in 2000 to mobilise against the recognition of GDR injustice by the Kohl government. Runs, among others, the Civil Alliance, the Institute for Strategic Studies Berlin and the news site Die Freie Welt. Long-time ally of Trump advisor Stephen K. Bannon, whom he advises on European and Latin American issues. Likes to pull strings in the background while other family members have to endure the limelight.

Michael Stürzenberger: Journalist, among others for 25 years at Bayern Journal, whose boss Ralph Burkei was killed in the Islamic terror attack in Mumbai in 2008; former press spokesman of the CSU Munich and federal chairman of the party "Die Freiheit", which dissolved at the end of 2016, as the AfD covers all political fields in his opinion. Writes for PI News, among others. Observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for criticising Islam and dragged before the courts several times for trumped-up accusations. Currently the most prominent politically persecuted person in Germany. Currently taking involuntary boxing lessons.

Write your suggestion for the "True Unword of the Year 2022" in the comments until midnight on 31 December. The jury will make a pre-selection of all suggestions.  Our readers can then vote on the finalists until 9 January.