Green Party Chair Franziska Brantner has called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to agree to a joint TV debate with the CDU and Green Party’s chancellor candidates. “Olaf Scholz should stand up to a fair competition” Brantner told the Tagesspiegel (Friday edition). “The SPD’s refusal to do so reveals a deep-seated issue.”
In two TV duels, ARD, ZDF, and RTL plan to pit Scholz against CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, with the Green Party’s Robert Habeck being left out. However, Merz has publicly clarified that he is not opposed to a three-way debate with Habeck, Brantner said. “It’s time for Olaf Scholz to make a clear statement.”
Brantner also criticized the decision of the broadcasters. “Given the polls and the political situation, it’s hard to understand why ARD and ZDF are excluding Robert Habeck” she said. There is no justifiable reason.
Brantner referred to the fact that the broadcasters had decided on a three-way debate in 2021, when the SPD was far behind in the polls. “Then, the broadcasters referred to an editorial decision, which made it seem as if the SPD and CDU were the only ones competing for the chancellor position” Brantner criticized. “Those times are long gone. Therefore, we are still demanding a participation.