(de-news.net) – During an intense televised debate on Sunday evening, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and CDU leader Friedrich Merz engaged in a vigorous discussion on a range of topics. Scholz attributed economic problems to global factors, while Merz underscored the government’s accountability.
The recent Bundestag incident, where the Union passed a motion with AfD votes, initiated the debate. Scholz accused Merz of violating promises and overstepping boundaries by potentially collaborating with the AfD in the Bundestag. Merz assured that there would be no collaboration, affirming no similarities with the AfD. He criticized Scholz for inadequate measures against irregular migration, while Scholz defended his stringent approach and accused Merz of proposing actions contravening European law.
Scholz contended that the Union endangered European asylum policy compromises. Regarding irregular migration, Scholz emphasized that his government has achieved measures to limit migration as extensive as none of the previous Union-led governments. Merz contradicted the Chancellor, stating that under pressure from the Green Party, the federal government has further complicated the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. He added that, according to the Basic Law, the rejection of asylum seekers is possible.
With respect to the citizen’s allowance, CDU leader Merz stated that he intends to reduce the number of recipients by 400,000. This measure, he claimed, would save six billion euros in the budget. Chancellor Scholz stressed that he also supports strict sanctions for those who do not wish to work.
In terms of the current economic crisis, Merz asserted that the country was in its third consecutive year of recession, highlighting high unemployment and an unprecedented wave of insolvencies. He argued that Scholz’s statements were disconnected from reality. Scholz dismissed the notion of deindustrialization despite recognizing a negative economic sentiment.
On the issue of the nursing shortage, Merz recommended increasing benefits but expressed skepticism about comprehensive insurance coverage. Scholz proposed the integration of public and private health insurance with a cap, a concept Merz found unjustifiable. The leaders also diverged on the debt brake, with Merz advocating for the state to operate within its current revenue, whereas Scholz called for reforms to prevent cuts in the social sector.
In discussions regarding the defense budget, both leaders agreed on achieving a 2% GDP target for defense spending. However, Merz advocated for further increases, while Scholz reiterated the necessity for debt brake reform.
