Migration, Internal Security, Economy and Trump were the main issues found in the spotlight of the first television duel The German Chancellor Allaf Saltz and the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) Friedrich Mertz gave on Sunday, ahead of the elections in the country in two weeks.

The German Chancellor attempted to win the impression and give a decisive blow to his opponent in the polls, but he did not seem to achieve his goal, as Bloomberg reports.

In this first television showdown, both Social Democrat Salts and the leader of the CDU/CSU CSU Conservative Alliance have both argued that they are the best choice to restore Europe’s largest economy to a substantial growth track, while keeping the far -right party for Germany. (AfD) away from power while maintaining a strong attitude against irregular migration and enhancing internal security.

Metz, during the debate, repeatedly attacked the Solds government for her performance, forcing Chancellor to get in a position of defensewhile describing Merz’s hard -core proposals for immigration “stupid” and his policies “ridiculous”.

The CDU/SCU candidate even appeared to be the winner of the February 23 election, noting that it is the most appropriate “to lead a new successful government”.

Salts, for his part, rejected the possibility of losing the election after four years in power, noting that voters are the ones who will decide For the outcome of the elections and not the pollsters. “A government that ensures that things go ahead and have stability in Germany is only possible with a vote in favor of the SPD,” Saltz said.

Andria Roman, a Professor of Political Communications at Berlin’s Hertie School University, described the two men’s television duel “very detailed in content”, adding that “the game did not change”.

“Saltz will not be able to benefit from it, Mertz was just better,” he told Bloomberg, adding that “he did not show a clear winner – and this result favors Mertz.”

So the margins for Salts seems to be narrowing very quickly as the SPD party has just two weeks at its disposal to cover the difference of approximately 14 percentage points which separates it from the CDU/CSU, according to the average polls cited by Bloomberg.

And to win the election, however, Mertz will have to work with at least one more party to secure the majority in the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament. As things are, the Social Democrats of Saltz and the Greens are the most likely candidates for a government coalition.

However, recent intra -government friction between Germany’s dominant political parties, which became evident in Sunday’s television showdown, raises concerns that Negotiations for a government coalition may prove to be more difficult – And they may last several months.

“The tone and content (of the debate) leave open the possibility of another big coalition after the elections, although the talks will probably be difficult,” IG’s economist Karsen Breski said in a report.

Saltz and Mertz also developed their strategies to address of the unpredictable new US President Donald Trumpas well as its threats to impose tariffs on European products – a development that will be a major challenge for Germany dependent.

Mertz pointed out the need for a strong European “answer”, while Saltz confirmed that the EU has already entered into a detailed list of US companies that could be hit by European countermeasures on US duties. “We are prepared, the answer is yes,” Saltz said. “We can answer within an hour.”

The view that Sunday’s telegram does not seem to change the facts in the election battle was also expressed by Sudha David-Wilp, Vice President of Foreign Affairs and a senior german Marshall Fund, pointing out that Mertz remains on a victory. “Mertz was definitely dynamic and well prepared, while Saltz was defending, but also often apt,” he told Bloomberg.

The two opponents are going to re -argue next Sunday, in the debate that will host the RTL/NTV television network, where Greens candidate Robert Hambek will also be involved, and the far -right Alternative Candidate for German Alternative And then again only the two on February 19, on Welt TV.