Germany Migration and jungle camp: Chancellor candidates on TV
One week before the Bundestag elections, the four candidates for chancellor from the SPD, CDU/CSU, Greens and AfD engaged in a fierce exchange of blows on key political issues for the first time in a TV debate.
16.02.2025, 22:59
SDA
In the four-way round on RTL, the opposing positions on migration, economic and financial policy, the war in Ukraine and pension policy came to light.
Dispute over deportations to Afghanistan
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz made it clear that he wants to further reduce irregular immigration to Germany. "We are keeping at it and must continue to do so." Scholz said that the number of deportations had risen by 70 percent since he took office.
CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz countered that currently as many new refugees come to Germany in four days as are deported in a month. He called on the German government to start talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan on the repatriation of refugees.
Green Party candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck emphasized that the Taliban were a "terror regime". There is no country that maintains diplomatic relations with them. Negotiating with the Taliban was a "noble blow for this regime".
AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel said with regard to the number of people entering the country without an entry permit: "People no longer want this loss of control in our country."
Scholz and Merz reject US interference in election campaign
The controversial speech by US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference was broadcast on television. Among other things, Vance declared in Munich that there was no room for firewalls. He made an indirect reference to the German debate on distancing oneself from the AfD. In this context, Vance warned of a threat to democracy. The term "firewall" refers primarily to the CDU/CSU and the AfD.
Scholz said: "What was said there is completely unacceptable." Germany had learned the lesson from the experience of National Socialism that there was no cooperation with the extreme right. Merz repeatedly emphasized that cooperation with the AfD was out of the question for the CDU/CSU. "And I resent such interference in the German parliamentary elections and also in the formation of a government afterwards." He added: "I'm not going to let an American vice president tell me who I have to talk to here in Germany."
Heated debate: How right-wing is the AfD?
Scholz's reference to National Socialism caused AfD leader Weidel to react indignantly: "I find this comparison scandalous. I reject it for myself personally and for the entire party."
The Chancellor also recalled statements by Alexander Gauland, honorary chairman of the AfD, who said in June 2018 that Hitler and the Nazis were "just a blip in over 1,000 years of successful German history". Gauland later described his statement as "misinterpretable and therefore politically unwise". Weidel replied: "You can insult me here tonight as much as you like. You are insulting millions of voters. It doesn't affect me at all. I only represent these votes. Please put that behind your ears."
Merz called the AfD "a right-wing extremist party, to a large extent right-wing extremist". He accused Weidel of "ennobling" AfD right-winger Björn Höcke. In an interview with the "Bild" newspaper, Weidel had said: "So Björn Höcke and I, we get on very well." She described her earlier attempt to expel Höcke from the AfD as a mistake. When asked whether she considered him suitable for a ministerial position, Weidel answered "yes".
"Voodoo economics" and "bureaucratic monstrosity"
Scholz, Merz, Habeck and Weidel also failed to find a common denominator when it came to economic and financial policy. Scholz and Habeck accused the CDU/CSU and AfD of pursuing a socially unjust tax policy: They wanted to relieve the burden on people with high incomes in particular with plans to cut taxes by billions. The plans were also not counter-financed. With regard to the CDU/CSU and Merz, Habeck spoke of "voodoo economics".
Merz countered this by accusing Scholz and Habeck of misguided economic policy in view of the recession in Germany. He cited the Supply Chain Act and the shutdown of nuclear power plants as examples. "We have to get out of this recession." The "bureaucratic monster" had to be brought under control. The CDU chairman also spoke out in favor of lowering corporate taxes.
Scholz reiterated the SPD's proposal to reduce the tax burden for 95 percent of taxpayers. In return, the rich should pay more. If you earn over 300,000 euros, as he did as Chancellor, you should pay more tax.
AfD leader Alice Weidel said that energy prices should be lowered by being open to technology, for example by using nuclear power plants with base load capacity, coal and gas. The gigantic subsidy policy for renewable energies must be ended, as must the CO2 levy.
Opposition or jungle camp?
A question to the four candidates for the RTL reality format "Ich bin ein Star - Holt mich hier raus!", in which celebrities compete against each other, caused temporary irritation: "What is worse for you, opposition or jungle camp?" Weidel replied: "Definitely jungle camp." Merz initially said: "I'm surprised by the question." Then: "I'd rather spend decades in opposition than ten days in the jungle camp." Habeck agreed with this. Scholz said: "I don't want to go to jungle camp either." But he had seen the show before.
A question to Merz caused an incredulous reaction: "What annoys you more: that Olaf Scholz always says you're lying? Or that even the Federal Chancellor is better received by young women than you?" Weidel asked in disbelief and laughed: "The Federal Chancellor is better received by young women? Really?" In any case, you need a fact check. Merz was also surprised: "I'm hearing that for the first time tonight too."
RTL figureheads host round of four
The round of four was hosted by two well-known RTL faces: Günther Jauch ("Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?") and news presenter Pinar Atalay ("RTL Direkt"). They also made sure that the opponents' speaking time was roughly equal. The speaking times were stopped by RTL and faded in again and again. At the end, each of the four guests was given the opportunity to make a closing statement.
RTL had originally planned a TV duel between Scholz and Merz, as seen a week ago on ARD and ZDF. However, the broadcaster then abandoned this idea, expanded the panel to include Habeck and Weidel and gave this format the name "Quadrell".
Polls have shown little movement for weeks
The parties are hoping to win over voters, not least with such talk shows. Opinion polls conducted by research institutes have shown little movement for weeks. However, there is clearly a large group of undecided voters. In the latest ZDF "Politbarometer", 28% stated that they are not yet sure whether and, if so, who they will vote for.
In the polls, the CDU/CSU is between 29 and 32 percent, followed by the AfD with 20 to 21 percent. The SPD comes in at 14 to 16% and the Greens at 12 to 14%. The Left Party would return to the Bundestag with 6 to 7 percent. The BSW and the FDP, with 4 to 5 percent each, must fear failure at the five percent hurdle.
Further TV debates
Scholz, Merz, Habeck and Weidel were already guests on the ZDF program "Klartext" last Thursday. However, they were questioned by viewers one after the other. They will meet again this Monday in the ARD "Wahlarena" - where citizens will also ask the questions. On Wednesday, Scholz and Merz will have another duel on Welt-TV and bild.de.
On Thursday, ARD and ZDF want to put the leading candidates of all parliamentary groups and parties represented in the Bundestag under the microscope. The channels Pro7/Sat1 are even planning a chancellor candidate round on Saturday evening.
