Migration and security policy generated a hard confrontation this Sunday, as expected, among the four candidates for the Foreign Ministry of the main political parties of Germany the conservative Friedrich Merz, the environmentalist Robert Habeck and the Ultra Alice Weidel – in the first I debate four on German television, held just one week before next Sunday’s elections.
“It is a radical right of the right and largely of the extreme right. The CDU (Unión Cristianodemocrata) has nothing in common with AFD (alternative for Germany), ”replied conservative leader Friedrich Merz when he was directly asked if he considers AFD a Nazi party in the first block of the debate focused on immigration.
Alice Weidel, after approaching them in several parliamentary votes on immigration at the end of January, something that was harshly criticized by social democrats and green for what they described that the sanitary cordon is supposed to the ultras parties in Germany.
Meanwhile, Weidel eluded the question about the proximity of his party with the CDU in immigration matters without wanting to appoint points in common and limiting himself to demanding a “preventive immigration policy.” He also took the opportunity to point out that irregular migration is illegal migration and that the internal security of Germany is on the verge of collapse. However, he refused to give a number about how many police officers would need to control the borders as they want.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also attacked AFD and the CDU for his approach something he described as “totally unacceptable” and recalled what happened in the past when he collaborated with the Nazi party and left Of course the danger of working with this type of matches.
“I represent millions of people,” Weidel interrupted, who saw those statements as disrespect not only towards her, but also for her voters. But Scholz reminded him of the statement of the honorary president of AFD, Alexander Gauland, when he said that National Socialism is a “small spot in more than 1000 years of successful German history.” Something that Weidel refused to make it clear whether or not to share it in spite of the presenter’s insistence. “Invite Mr. Gauland and asks him directly.”
During the debate, a novelty in the history of German television, Scholz, Merz and Habeck criticized the interference of the United States in the German election campaign after the United States vice president, JD Vance, said the weekend that there is no Place for firewalls. “I’m not going to let an American vice president tell me who I have to talk to,” said Merz.
The tension was to be expected at a time when the immigration and security issue monopolizes the campaign after the latest attacks at the hands of perpetrated refugees in the country. The last, last Thursday, when a young Afghan ran over his car for “religious motifs” a trade union demonstration in Munich seriously hurting a two -year -old girl and her mother, who died two days later. Another 37 people were injured.
The economic crisis also faced the four politicians hard in the debate issued by the private chains RTL, NTV and Stern magazine and moderated by journalists Pinar Atalay and Günther Jauch, a famous presenter of the long contest “Who wants to be a millionaire?” in which he has been 25 years. The four candidates fought to defend their measures to return to the growth path after two years of recession. Habeck criticized Merz not being able to present solid financing for his projects and Scholz said of AFD that he says nothing more than “words.”
Regarding Ukraine the leader of the Greens asked the European states to remain united “to resist.” “Under no circumstances must be intimidated by the US,” he said after Vance questioned European democracies.
For her part, the AFD leader, a party known for her proximity to Russia, praised the efforts of US President Donald Trump, who wants to negotiate with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the end of the war in Ukraine. In his opinion, the West has caused the Russian leader. “Russia no longer perceives us as neutral,” he said. To which Merz responded angrily: “We are not neutral” and reaffirmed his support for Ukraine that Scholz and Hayeck seconded. “That’s why I will do everything possible so that AFD does not enter the government,” said Merz.
followed by AFD with around 20%, in third position the SPD stands with 15-16% and in fourth the green with 14%. Until now, these values seem almost fixed. With these data, the four had a clear objective: winning the votes of the undecided. According to surveys, between 30 and 40% of the electorate does not yet know who is going to vote on February 23.
Undisous can play an important role in making coalitions. If they stay out the small matches, the FDP liberals and the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance, it will be easier to form a major conservatives with social democrats, and
