(Adnkronos) – German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF announced today the cancellation of the planned debate between Green chancellor candidate Robert Habeck and Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate Alice Weidel.
ARD told Dpa that Habeck had refused in writing to hold a debate with Weidel. Both broadcasters had planned to organize two debates: one, the main one, between Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz and conservative candidate Friedrich Merz, and the second between Habeck and Weidel.
According to ARD, before the federal elections there will be only one debate broadcast jointly by the two public broadcasters: the one between Chancellor Scholz and Merz on 9 February. The private broadcaster RTL is also planning a televised duel between the same candidates a week later.
