German SPD’s Scholz Wins Election Debate in Blow to Merkel Heir
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Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the Social Democratic candidate for German chancellor, cemented his position as the front-runner to succeed Angela Merkel, giving a competent if wooden performance to see off attacks from rivals.
Armin Laschet, the contender from Merkel’s conservative camp, was the biggest loser in the first head-to-head clash among the three candidates. He failed to sustain a challenge that might lift his sputtering campaign, while the Greens’ Annalena Baerbock gave a spirited performance, landing several blows, especially against Laschet.