Wahl 2025: Heated Debate in Final Televised Round
**A **Clash of Perspectives and Interruptions:
ARD and ZDF’s pre-election broadcast, "Wahl 2025 Schlussrunde," featured an intense exchange of views among representatives from eight political parties. The moderators, Markus Preiß and Diana Zimmermann, struggled to control the constant interruptions as each participant sought to express their opinions. Preiß resorted to interjections such as "Basta" to restore order and facilitate a change in topic.
Youthful Concerns Take Center Stage:
The broadcasters had promised to address topics that had received insufficient attention in previous debates, such as healthcare, social care, mandatory service, and climate change. These issues played a significant role in the discussion.
Defense and Conscription: Divergent Views
AfD candidate Alice Weidel advocated for a two-year mandatory military service, arguing for improved national defense capabilities and fostering a sense of national identity. CSU representatives Alexander Dobrindt and Carsten Linnemann countered with a proposal for a mandatory social service year, allowing individuals to serve in institutions such as the military, fire brigade, or disaster relief organizations.
FDP leader Christian Lindner vehemently opposed the AfD’s proposal, fearing a significant curtailment of young people’s freedom. Sahra Wagenknecht from the BSW also expressed disapproval, emphasizing that a capable army does not necessitate conscription.
Healthcare Debate: Private vs. Public
Lindner argued against merging private and public health insurance systems, warning of a loss of choice and quality. Wagenknecht, in contrast, advocated for a single system with a more equitable financing model. SPD’s Matthias Miersch criticized the unequal treatment of private and public health insurance policyholders when accessing specialist care.
Caregiving and Inequality:
Weidel sparked controversy by proposing monthly stipends of 2,000 to 3,000 euros for individuals providing care to family members. Lindner criticized the proposal as excessive, urging young people to make private provisions for their future care.
Climate Change: Balancing Ambition and Affordability
Jan van Aken from Die Linke warned against compromising on climate protection but called for greater social cushioning measures. He proposed tiered subsidies for heat pumps, with lower-income earners receiving full coverage. Wagenknecht advocated for climate neutrality by 2045, but emphasized the need to avoid measures that disproportionately burden individuals.
Foreign Policy and NATO:
The debate also touched on Ukraine and the implications of the US’s changing stance towards Europe under Donald Trump. Annalena Baerbock from the Greens highlighted the need for Europe to strengthen its own security if US support diminishes. The issue of NATO’s future also emerged, with van Aken suggesting that Germany’s security would be enhanced if the alliance were dissolved.
Influence on Undecided Voters:
Political parties view these televised debates as opportunities to sway the opinions of undecided voters. According to the ZDF Politbarometer, 27% of voters remain undecided. The poll results were unfavorable for the Union, which lost two points, dropping to 28%. The AfD gained one point, rising to 21%. SPD and the Greens remained unchanged at 16% and 14%, respectively.
Last Chance to Sway Voters:
ProSieben and SAT.1 will host a "Speed-Dating" event on Saturday, providing citizens an opportunity to question all chancellor candidates except Friedrich Merz, who declined due to scheduling conflicts.
