Just before election
TV- “final round” in the election campaign becomes a boundary round
So many participants have never sat together in the television studio in this election campaign. There has never been as much arguments and messed up as in the “final round” of ARD and ZDF.
“Wahl 2025 final round” called ARD and ZDF their show three days before the Bundestag election – the result was a dispute and sometimes also a writer. What was primarily due to the fact that eight party representatives sat together, as many as in no other TV election campaign program before – and everyone wanted to speak on every topic.
In any case, the moderators Markus Preiß and Diana Zimmermann, head of the City Town studios of ARD and ZDF, had all the trouble to keep the opponents in chess who kept saying each other. And sometimes a “basta” was necessary: ”Now the point has been reached where this round is over,” Preiß drove in between when he wanted to change the topic and continued to talk his guests.
The broadcasters had promised a discussion round about topics that had so far been neglected and the young people were interested – a resolution that was complied with. Health, care, duty, climate – these topics had practically played a role in the TV rounds before.
The general secretaries of the SPD and CDU, Matthias Miersch and Carsten Linnemann, CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), FDP boss Christian Lindner, AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, left-wing boss Jan van Aken and BSW -Pitz candidate Sahra Wagenknecht.
Compulsory military or duty
AfD boss Weidel went most by speaking for a two-year conscription. “We are no longer able to defend national defense,” was one of her arguments. In addition, conscription also serves to identify the population with their army. Instead, the Union representatives Linnemann and Dobrindt campaigned for a mandatory social year, which can be carried out, for example, in the Bundeswehr, the fire brigade or the technical relief organization.
FDP boss Lindner categorically rejected the AfD advance and warned of a “huge intervention of freedom in young people”. BSW founder Wagenknecht also contradicted: “We need a Bundeswehr that can defend us – but we do not need compulsory military service.”
Future of health and long-term care insurance
Lindner vehemently spoke out against a merger of private and statutory health insurance. “A unit fund, state medicine leads in the wrong direction,” he warned. First you cancel the freedom of choice between the health insurance companies, next to you, you can do the freedom of choice, which doctor you go, said Lindner. “Freedom of choice is part of the quality of our health system.”
“If you say there is a freedom of choice, that’s a mockery,” Wagenknecht countered. “Most people can’t choose which cash register they are in.” There must be a common system for everyone and really solidarity financing, she demanded. Left boss van Aken saw it similarly. SPD general secretary Miersch denounced the total unequal treatment of privately and legally insured with specialists. This must change.
Weidel triggered the former finance minister Lindner shaking the head, when she asked to pay people who maintain family members 2,000 to 3,000 euros per month. “A lot of money is distributed all the time,” criticized the FDP man and appealed to young people, also to make privately for their later care.
Disagreement also in climate protection
Left boss van Aken warned of compromising in climate protection, but demanded more social catches. So grants should be staggered into heat pumps. Low earners should receive 100 percent of the additional costs, but many earners do not receive any subsidies at all. “Then suddenly they get a wide range of approval among the population.”
BSW boss Sahra Wagenknecht confessed to climate neutrality by 2045 – if there were the necessary technologies until then. “Only I don’t think that climate protection is promoted by making life more expensive for people.” Often they would have no alternative. Not everyone could switch from their car with combustion engine to the electric car or public transport.
Linnemann once again worked out at the Heating Act of the traffic light coalition. “That was a fiasco.” When it comes to climate protection, planning security, also for funding programs, and technology openness is needed.
Ukraine and security in Europe
The round could not avoid the Ukraine and the change of course of the new US government under Donald Trump compared to allies. Baerbock emphasized that the strong support of the United States may no longer be the case, “then we Europeans have to secure our own peace even more”.
For SPD general secretary Miersch, the event was foreseeable higher expenses for defense to demand a reform of the debt brake. Which in turn rejected CSU man Dobrindt. This must also be “possible out of the household”. Linnemann demanded that Germany had to take on a leadership role in Europe and put a priority on defense ability.
The positions for the further support of the Ukraine attacked by Russia were completely contrary. Weidel demanded that Germany are no longer involved, not with arms deliveries and not with financial aid. Wagenknecht warned of a “insane armed arms”. And left-wing boss van Aken caused a stir with the thesis that Germany’s security would be more secure in the long term if NATO disassembled.
Still many voters tie
The parties hope to win over voters with talks like this still undecided voters. According to the ZDF Politbarometer just published, their number is 27 percent. The survey did not bring anything good for the Union – it fell by two points to 28 percent. The AfD as the second strongest force was able to get one point to 21 percent. SPD and Greens remain at 16 or 14 percent.
With 8 percent (+1), the left would safely into the Bundestag. FDP and BSW would have to worry about moving into parliament. In the survey, both come to 4.5 percent each, each half of the percentage point more than in the previous week.
TV round also on Saturday evening
The parties still have a very last chance to get voters via TV. The broadcasters ProSieben and Sat.1 organize a “speed dating” on Saturday evening, in which citizens can question the Chancellor candidates – all except for Friedrich Merz. The CDU boss was apologized for schedule.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
