German election: Scholz plans Trump visit before vote

The Green Party and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have slammed German public broadcasters for scheduling an election TV debate featuring only Social Democratic (SPD) candidate and incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leader of the conservative opposite Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz.

Green Party leader Franziska Brantner took to social media to accuse license-fee-funded ARD and ZDF of "interfering in an open election" by not inviting other party representatives, including the Greens' chancellor candidate Robert Habeck. "The reality of the options to form the next government cannot reflected by a two-way debate," she continued. "It requires equal opportunities."

Green Party parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge said: "Are they serious? They've only invited the SPD and CDU? Some friendly support on the way back to the GroKo*?"

Her party colleague Irene Mihalic added: "In an extremely short election campaign, ARD and ZDF are manufacturing a political landscape which has nothing to do with reality."

The far-right populist AfD, meanwhile, says it is considering legal action against the exclusion of party leader Alice Weidel from the debate, complaining that "the party currently with the second-highest poll ratings" was being relegated to the sidelines.

The AfD were excluded from a three-way TV debate ahead of the 2021 federal election featuring Scholz, Armin Laschet (CDU) and Annalena Baerbock (Greens).

"Now a new standard has been set whereby the current chancellor only faces the supposedly strongest challenger," said a spokesperson. "The Greens are collateral damage and have been left behind with the AfD."

Scholz and Merz will face each other on free-to-air channels ARD and ZDF on February 9 and again on private channel RTL on February 16.

*GroKo is a commonly used abbreviation for Grosse Koalition ("Grand Coalition"), the nickname given to a coalition government formed by Germany's two largest traditional parites, the SPD and the CDU. The GroKo last formed the German government between 2013 and 2021 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany's political parties have begun presenting their draft election manifestos. And with Europe's largest economy struggling, they focus on income, the economy and jobs.

DW looks at the campaign platforms of the major parties.

One day after losing a vote of confidence in parliament, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he hopes to visit US President-elect Donald Trump after he is formally sworn in on January 20, 2025.

Germany's dpa news agency has reported that Scholz "expressed his wish to visit him very soon after taking office" when the chancellor called Trump in early November to congratulate him on defeating Joe Biden to return to the White House.

Though Germany will likely vote on February 23 after the collapse of its government, sources in Berlin told dpa it "cannot be ruled out" that Scholz could meet Trump in DC. 

Though Trump took the unusual step of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to his swearing-in there has been no word yet as to which other leaders had been asked to attend.

Neither Berlin nor Washington have given any indication that Scholz's name was on the list of invitees. 

The Greens have presented their 70-page policy draft to party members, including a raft of social programs aimed at helping families and addressing climate change.

These include increased rent controls, keeping the 49-euro public transport ticket for all of Germany, a minimum wage of 15 euros, and benefits for people dealing with skyrocketing energy prices.

The program is "full of measures that will make this country fairer and life more affordable," party leader Felix Banaszak stressed at the presentation.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Green chancellor candidate Robert Habeck also attended the event. 

Habeck said that addressing climate change was the party's "top priority." In order to finance their ambitious climate plans, the party wants to introduce a billionaires' tax, reform the debt brake, and close tax loopholes for companies.

FDP leader Lindner and party secretary Marco Buschmann kept their policy proposals to their party's bread and butter: the economy.

The business-friendly FDP said they want to lower taxes on individual earners who make less than 96,600€ ($101, 400) a year, as well as lower taxes on companies and on inheritance.

Changing Germany's debt brake, which limits the amount of money the government can borrow, is "absolutely forbidden," the pair confirmed.

Arguments about the debt brake were central to Lindner's falling out with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as some economists argue that Germany's infrastructure and industry will continue to stagnate if it does not borrow money to modernize.

The FDP also wants to "completely reform" social welfare for the country's lowest earners, they said.

Another facet of the program is to limit the ability of "essential workers" to strike, such as those in the health, energy, and education sectors.

Former Finance Minister Christian Lindner, whose dismissal precipitated the collapse of Germany's coalition in November, was the main speaker at his pro-business Free Democrats (FDP)'s conference on Thursday.

The election on "February 23 of next year marks a directional decision for our country," he said. He warned that without implementing the economic reforms his party is suggesting, "more and more people will look for an alternative to the democratic center."

His use of the word alternative alluded to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is currently in second place in most voter surveys.

Although the FDP is currently only polling at 5%, barely clearing the hurdle to enter the Bundestag, Lindner delivered his remarks with the seriousness of one who expects his party to become kingmakers in future coalition talks.

As it has in the past, Lindner said he was sure the FDP "would play a key role in building the future government."

Lindner's open disagreements with the SPD and Green parties about policy, despite being the most junior member of the coalition, were at the heart of why Chancellor Scholz demanded his resignation.

During an event to announce the party’s election program, CDU and CSU leaders took to criticizing the current government and its head, Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 

CSU head Markus Söder went as far as calling Scholz "the most embarrassing chancellor Germany has ever had." 

This comes after Scholz said on television that CDU leader Friedrich Merz "likes to talk nonsense."

Söder also criticized Germany’s Green party for being "incompetent," also saying Germany’s conservatives are currently unlikely to cooperate with the Greens due to their policies.

The conservative coalition of the CDU and CSU said that "business as usual is not an option."

Germany's conservative coalition, made of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) unanimously voted in favor of the party’s program for the 2025 elections. 

The program includes a promise to lower taxes and de-facto stop illegal migration.

The party will also continue its support for Ukraine and will re-introduce compulsory military service, previously canceled in 2011, according to a report by German news agency DPA.

The party’s leader and Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said he believes the conservative Union "must become the guarantors of peace and freedom."

As Germany heads for elections, authorities in Berlin fear that the February 23 vote will also be a target for pro-Russian propaganda. 

Media investigations have pointed to Kremlin-linked efforts to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and boost the Russia-friendly views of the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

Germany’s Interior Ministry has set up a taskforce to take "the necessary protection measures" against any disinformation, sabotage, espionage and cyber attacks. 

"Whether we like it or not, we are in a direct confrontation with Moscow," Germany’s foreign intelligence chief Bruno Kahl has warned.

Germany is officially going to elections, and debate preparations are now underway.

This comes after the current government, under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD lost a confidence vote on Monday, resulting in him asking President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to call early elections.

Scholz is expected to face his main opponent, conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, in at least two televised debates prior to the elections, which are expected to take place on February 23. 

Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are planning one debate on February 9, while private broadcaster RTL will hold another debate on February 16.

ftm/zc (dpa, Reuters, AFP)