ARD Rejects Report of Scholz’s Condition for TV Debate Participation
ARD has rejected a media report claiming that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) attached a condition to his participation in a TV debate, namely that it should lead to a duel-like situation. According to a spokesperson for the ARD, the editorial concept was “completely independent of any conditions or influences” from the politicians, as told to the Tagesspiegel on Wednesday.
The criticism from the Greens and AfD, whose chancellor candidates were not invited, was dismissed by the spokesperson. “We are hosting a duel between the incumbent, Olaf Scholz (SPD), and the challenger with the best prospects of succession, Friedrich Merz (CDU)” she explained.
ARD and ZDF will, however, hold a so-called “final round” with the top candidates of all parties on February 20. “Even the political talk shows of ARD and ZDF enable direct exchange” the ARD spokesperson said.
A previous report by Table Media had claimed that Scholz had exerted pressure on the broadcasters. The Greens subsequently demanded clarification. “I think that’s in need of explanation” said the parliamentary business manager of the Greens, Irene Mihalic, in Berlin on Wednesday. The Greens’ election manager, Andreas Audretsch, told the Tagesspiegel that ARD and ZDF should reconsider their decision.
According to the latest Sunday question of the Infratest opinion research institute for ARD, the SPD is two percentage points ahead of the Greens. In a survey by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen for ZDF, the difference is only one percentage point. In the unweighted “political mood” in the latter survey, the SPD trails behind the Greens. In both surveys, the AfD performs worse than the SPD and Greens, but lacks potential coalition partners.