Germany: Candidates for Chancellor answered citizens’ questions ahead of Sunday’s elections

In the “electoral arena” (Wahlarena) they went down last night. four candidates For Chancellor, the Altf Saltz (SPD), the Friedrich Mertz (CDU/CSU), the Robert Habek (Greens) and the Alice Weidel (AfD), in order to answer citizens’ questions ahead of Sunday’s elections in Germany. They dominated pension, care, housing issue, immigration, and German -American relations. Ms. Widel was pressured to answer how her personal choices were in line with the authorities of her party, while Saltz and Mertz agreed that they would not enter each other’s government.

The Chancellor, who arrived at the event directly from Paris, where European leaders met to evaluate the new data after the latest US initiatives for Ukraine, was asked how he intends to maintain good relations with the US. In response, Mr. Saltz recognized the historical significance of German-American relations, characterizing key issues Security and economy, while at the same time accusing US vice president Jay Di Vance of intervening in Germany’s elections. “If we approach the issue with calmness, we can jointly develop policies, even when things get difficult,” Chancellor assured. “Relations with the US have been a kind of ‘life insurance’ for Germany for decades. We must, however, reject the idea that a US vice president is interfering with the German election campaign and says the far -right parties are not so bad. This also applies to the dispute over punitive tariffs. In this regard, the attitude of self -confidence helps, ” Overlit Saltz stressed, reminding that he publicly criticized the statements by US President Donald Trump For Greenland.

Overfy Saltz received questions from a nurse who, although he received a pension after 45 years of work, is forced to continue working. Said the Social Democratic Party (SPD) electoral program provides fixed pensions And he was in favor of increasing pensions at wages without increasing the retirement age. “Anyone who worked for so many years as a nurse should be able to live by his pension.”he noted.

The Chancellor also criticized the fact that his government failed to implement its commitment to erection 400,000 new apartments during the four -year period.

Friedrich Mertz asked everyone ‘To lift the sleeves’ And to work for the country’s economic recovery, saying that anyone who can work but do not lose it will lose the social welfare allowance. ‘Without’ excessive ‘demands, there is no recovery “he said. In questions about the migration, he reiterated that anyone who is illegally in the country must to be deported. A woman criticized the fact that after the attacks of foreigners, emphasis was placed on the origin of the perpetrator and not e.g. In the fact that he is suffering from mental illness and asked Mr Mertz what he intends to do in order for these people to get help. “The problem is that mental illnesses are not adequately treated in Germany, especially for people with immigration background,” The woman insisted, questioning the effectiveness of the plan to close the border. Union candidate answered with a question: “Do you think we should continue as in recent years? Is this the solution? “ First of all, he continued, “We will ensure that those with no permanent residence will leave the country as soon as possible (…) We cannot provide psychiatric care to hundreds of thousands of people. They have to leave the country! “

Alice Weidel has advocated even more restrictive policy on immigration and asylum, although he admitted that Germany needed specialized immigrants. “Asylum seekers migration must be separated from the immigration of employees. The illegals are no longer welcome, we will expel them, ” He emphasized that immigrants under an auxiliary residence permit, which temporarily suspendes the deportation decision, should not be granted a work or training permit. “This also applies to foreign people who attend nursing education”, answered questioned about it. However, anyone who can migrate as an employee if he has completed nursing training, he said. “If he has training, he is very welcome.”

In European politics, Alice Weidel said her party It is not in favor of Germany’s exit from the European Unionbut in favor of transferring powers from Brussels to national institutions. He even put an example the decision to gradually abolish the internal combustion engines, which he said, cannot be taken by European bodies that are not democratically elected and therefore “Unbelievable”.

Asked how she is in line with her position in the AfD leadership that she is married to a woman from Sri Lanka, Mrs. Weidel was limited to declaring that “Everyone should be able to have a family as they want. The living between the same sex people should be treated as a marriage, but the institution of marriage between man and woman is not affected. “he added.

Greens candidate and finance minister Robert Habek has received questions about the cost of energy in Germany. Indicated as a major cause the war in Ukraine. He also admitted that ‘Digitization didn’t go at all’ And he pointed out that the environment did not particularly concern the current election period. Mr Hambek criticized Friedrich Mertz’s proposal for ‘Less setting and more technology’ Climate issues, warning that if Germany withdraws from European goals, other states and other states and The European climate movement will be at risk of collapse.

Asked “How could people be liberated by the oligarchs of technology”, Greens Candidate Habek characterized ‘Attack on our values’ the collaboration of US President Donald Trump with Masculine. He also criticized the US Vice President Jay Di Vance that “He is hiding behind allegations of freedom of expression, as he calls on the EU less regulation on US ownership platforms and says that algorithms must be public.” Mr Hambek even in favor of creating a German or European platform of social networking and communication, stressing that “Our communications, our views and our democracy cannot depend on Chinese algorithms and extreme fantasies of Ilon Musk.”