Election Campaign Finale: Merz Considers SPD and Greens as Coalition Partners

In a heated televised debate featuring four candidates for the chancellorship, Friedrich Merz, the candidate from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed openness to potential coalition partnerships with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens. This discussion comes as all parties gear up for the final stretch leading to the federal elections.

During the debate broadcast on RTL and ntv, Merz strategically positioned himself by stating that he was confident in the possibility of productive discussions post-election, particularly highlighting that both the SPD and the Greens are aware that the current approach is unsustainable. He dismissed the idea of working with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), citing doubts about their viability as partners, and reiterated his firm stance against collaborating with the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

As the elections approach, recent polling indicates that the CDU/CSU, with Merz at the helm, is leading with approximately 30% support, significantly ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD, which is polling between 14% and 16%. A quick survey conducted by Forsa during the debate revealed that 32% of viewers favored Merz, compared to 25% for Scholz. Robert Habeck from the Greens and Alice Weidel from the AfD each garnered 18% support.

The debate also revealed public perceptions of the candidates, with Habeck being viewed as the most likable figure by 34% of the audience, while Merz had 23%, Scholz 19%, and Weidel 17%. When asked who could lead the country most effectively, Merz again topped the list with 42%, followed by Scholz at 19%, Weidel at 16%, and Habeck at 13%.

Despite the lively exchanges, the debate seemed unlikely to sway many voters. A striking 84% of those surveyed indicated that the debate did not impact their voting decisions, with only 10% claiming it did.

The candidates reiterated their established positions on various critical issues, including immigration, economic policy, energy, and retirement. Scholz and Habeck accused the CDU and AfD of proposing inequitable tax policies lacking proper funding, while Merz and Weidel attributed the current economic recession to the policies of the SPD and Greens. Notably, climate change discussions were largely absent from the debate.

On the subject of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Merz, Scholz, and Habeck presented a united front, emphasizing continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and rejecting recent interventions from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in the German electoral process. Weidel, however, diverged from this consensus, advocating for an end to German arms supplies to Ukraine.

One notable moment in the debate involved a discussion on smartphone usage in schools. While Scholz and Habeck opposed a ban, Merz cited successful trials in Schleswig-Holstein and suggested it could be a reasonable response for elementary schools. Weidel firmly supported the idea of a ban.

The debate was not without its controversial moments. Scholz faced backlash from Weidel when he equated collaboration with extreme-right parties to historical references, to which she vehemently objected. Merz characterized the AfD as largely extremist, while Weidel defended her party as a 'liberty-oriented conservative' entity.

In a lighter exchange, all four candidates agreed on one point: none would prefer to participate in reality television's Dschungelcamp over being in opposition.

As the candidates concluded their debate, the atmosphere was charged with the implications of their discussions, setting the stage for a crucial week leading up to the elections.