Scholz Fails to Land Decisive Blow in German Election TV Debate

As the German election campaign enters its final stretch, the eagerly awaited TV duel between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his main challenger, Friedrich Merz, took place on Sunday, February 10, 2025. The debate, which was expected to be a turning point in the election, failed to deliver a decisive blow for either candidate, leaving the race for the chancellorship largely unchanged.



Scholz, the incumbent chancellor and candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), entered the debate as the frontrunner, with polls showing his party leading the race. However, his performance in the debate did little to solidify his position or significantly improve his party's polling numbers. While Scholz was seen as the most convincing candidate by 41% of viewers, according to a survey by Infratest dimap, his performance was largely considered low-wattage and statesmanlike, failing to generate much excitement or enthusiasm among viewers.

Merz, the candidate for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), struggled to land a knock-out punch or lure Scholz into a misstep. Despite his attempts to go on the attack, Merz's performance was not enough to significantly shift the polls in his favor. He was seen as the most convincing candidate by 27% of viewers, according to the same survey.

The debate, which was moderated by experienced journalists Sandra Maischberger (ARD) and Maybrit Illner (ZDF), covered various thematic blocks, including the economy, climate policy, social justice, and foreign policy. However, the lack of a clear winner in the debate left the door open for a possible coalition between Merz and Scholz, given their relatively well-behaved presentation and shared focus on certain issues.

The exclusion of other candidates, such as Robert Habeck and Alice Weidel, from the TV debate sparked controversy and criticism from their respective parties. The Greens and the AfD argued that a broader debate round would have been more representative of the current political landscape and provided a more comprehensive discussion of the key issues and policy proposals. However, the impact of this exclusion on voter engagement and the overall election campaign dynamics remains to be seen.

As the German election campaign continues, both Scholz and Merz will have to work harder to convince undecided voters and strengthen their positions. The outcome of the election will depend on various factors, including the overall political climate, the performance of other candidates, and the effectiveness of each candidate's campaign strategies. With just under a week to go until election day, the race for the chancellorship remains too close to call.

In conclusion, the TV debate between Scholz and Merz failed to deliver a decisive blow for either candidate, leaving the race for the chancellorship largely unchanged. The exclusion of other candidates from the debate sparked controversy and criticism, but its impact on voter engagement and the overall election campaign dynamics remains to be seen. As the German election campaign enters its final stretch, both Scholz and Merz will have to work harder to convince undecided voters and strengthen their positions.