Top German politicians and chancellor candidates, in a final TV debate, traded blows over topics such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, defense expenditures, and healthcare.
The debate kicked off with a discussion on Germany’s debt brake, the country’s expenditures on defense and Ukraine.
Germany is under pressure to raise its investments in defense amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who is urging European members of NATO to spend more. However, the German government is constitutionally limited in its ability to take on new debt.
Far-right AfD Chancellor candidate Alice Weidel criticized conservative Christian Democratic Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, who was not present at the debate. She was critical of Merz’s push to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, due to the risk of a “spiral of escalation” with Russia.
