With just two weeks remaining before Germany’s crucial election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz engaged in a heated and combative debate on national television Sunday night. The two leaders fiercely clashed over key issues, including migration policy, the state of Germany’s economy, and the country’s approach to dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The debate took a particularly sharp turn when Scholz condemned Merz’s proposal to turn away asylum seekers at Germany’s borders. He argued that such a policy would directly violate European Union laws and risk deepening divisions within the bloc at a time when Germany needs European unity more than ever—particularly in the face of Trump’s looming tariff threats. Frustrated by Merz’s stance, Scholz fired back with a scathing remark: “How dumb can someone be?”
The fiery exchange underscored the high stakes of the upcoming election, with both leaders vying to shape Germany’s future amid growing economic concerns, rising migration pressures, and shifting global alliances.
With just two weeks remaining before Germany heads to the polls, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz engaged in a fiery and contentious televised debate on Sunday night. The two leaders clashed over key issues such as migration, the economy, and Germany’s stance toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The debate laid bare deep ideological divisions and came at a time of heightened political tensions, particularly over Merz’s recent willingness to collaborate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag.
Heated Exchange Over Migration and the Far Right
A particularly intense moment unfolded when Scholz defended his government’s efforts to crack down on abuses of the asylum system. Merz dismissed this claim outright, responding sharply, “You don’t live on this planet. What you’re saying is a fairy tale.”
The exchange took place against the backdrop of a political firestorm sparked by Merz’s controversial decision to use AfD votes to push for stricter immigration policies in parliament. This move weakened Germany’s long-standing “firewall” against far-right collaboration, a principle upheld since the end of World War II. Scholz seized on the controversy, warning that Merz’s actions risked normalizing the far right. “I seriously fear you would consider a coalition with the AfD after the election,” Scholz charged.
Merz, however, firmly denied any intention of forming a government with the far right. “It will not happen,” he insisted.
Despite this, Merz turned the criticism back onto Scholz, arguing that his left-leaning government was responsible for the AfD’s rise in the polls. “This is a serious threat to our democracy,” he warned, suggesting that the government’s policies had alienated conservative voters and driven them toward the far right. “The AfD must become smaller again, and Mr. Scholz, together with the Greens, has tried to create a left-wing policy in Germany. There has long been no majority for left-wing politics in this country.”
Economic Policy: Who’s to Blame for Germany’s Struggles?
As Germany grapples with economic contraction and an energy crisis, the debate also highlighted stark differences between Scholz and Merz on economic policy. Merz accused Scholz of failing to protect Germany from economic decline, blaming his government’s policies for the country’s worsening financial outlook.
Scholz, in turn, pointed to external factors beyond his control. “I’m not the one who invaded Ukraine. I’m not the one who stopped gas deliveries—that was [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he countered, emphasizing that Russia’s war on Ukraine had upended Europe’s energy market and sent economic shockwaves through Germany.
Merz, however, was quick to push back. He criticized Scholz’s decision to shut down Germany’s remaining nuclear power plants, arguing that this move had further weakened the country’s energy security. “Then why in God’s name did you end nuclear energy?” he asked incredulously.
Scholz defended his government’s stance, pointing out that restarting the nuclear reactors—an option conservatives have said they would explore—would come at an enormous financial cost. “That would cost €40 billion,” he argued, suggesting that the focus should instead be on investing in renewable energy and future-proofing Germany’s power supply.
A Clash Over Trump and a Potential Trade War
One of the most heated confrontations of the night centered on how Germany should handle a potential trade war with the United States under Trump’s leadership. Scholz accused Merz of undermining European unity with his migration policies, warning that this could weaken Germany’s ability to stand up to Trump’s protectionist agenda.
“Is Merz really proposing that the biggest country in Europe, right in the middle, should be the one breaking European law?” Scholz asked rhetorically. He stressed that Germany would soon need the support of the entire European Union to counter possible U.S. tariff policies, which he argued would likely be “directed against Germany” and could only be resisted through collective action. “What Mr. Merz is proposing here is against German interests,” he concluded.
When asked whether the EU should retaliate against Trump’s potential tariff threats with similar trade measures, both Scholz and Merz indicated that Europe was prepared to respond forcefully if necessary. “Tariffs are certainly an instrument,” Merz said, citing the 2018 agreement reached between then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Trump, which had temporarily halted new tariffs against the EU. “Strong Europeans, strong response. Talk with the Americans on equal footing and tell them clearly what is possible and what is not,” Merz summarized, outlining his preferred approach to dealing with Trump.
Scholz, for his part, suggested that European leaders had already developed a concrete response plan. “We are prepared for this,” he said, adding that the EU could act swiftly if necessary. “So the answer is, with the greatest diplomatic caution, we can act as the European Union within an hour.”
How to Handle Trump?
Beyond trade policy, both leaders were pressed on their broader strategies for dealing with Trump if he returns to the White House. However, neither provided particularly detailed answers.
Merz characterized Trump as “predictably unpredictable” and stressed the need for a “common European strategy” to handle him. He vowed that, if elected, he would dedicate significant effort to strengthening European unity on this issue. “If I were elected, I would invest a lot of time and effort in creating this European unity,” he said.
Scholz pointed to his own past dealings with Trump as a model for how he would handle the former U.S. president in the future. “Clear words and friendly talks,” he said, summarizing his diplomatic approach.
A Pivotal Debate Ahead of the Election
The explosive debate reflected the high stakes of Germany’s upcoming election. With migration, economic turmoil, and the country’s relationship with the U.S. at the center of the political discourse, both Scholz and Merz sought to frame themselves as the leader best equipped to navigate these challenges. However, their fundamentally different visions for Germany’s future were on full display, leaving voters with a stark choice in the weeks ahead.
or a specific category with our 
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.