In a recent TV debate, SPD leader Saskia Esken accused CDU candidate Friedrich Merz of misusing asylum numbers. “Especially, Friedrich Merz has used numbers that are without any foundation” Esken said in the RTL and ntv program “Frühstart” on Monday.
Esken claimed that Merz had included Ukrainian refugees in his statistics, saying that the actual numbers of irregular migrants and asylum applications in the past three years were 300,000 and 800,000, respectively. Merz, she said, was trying to divert attention from the SPD’s efforts to regulate and control irregular migration.
Regarding SPD leader Olaf Scholz, Esken described him as “sufficiently aggressive” in his attacks, saying that as Chancellor, he should maintain a statesmanlike demeanor. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a respectful tone, even in contentious debates.
Esken expressed a positive view of Scholz’s performance in the debate, stating that he had convinced the audience of his likability, credibility and competence. She is optimistic about the remaining two weeks of the election campaign, saying, “I am convinced that we can still achieve something in the coming two weeks.