Merkel’s Would-Be Heir on Defensive as Rivals Seek United Front
- SPD, Green candidates make common cause against Laschet
- Scholz joins Baerbock in pledging to force CDU into opposition
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Christian Democrat Armin Laschet was put on the defensive in Germany’s third election debate as his two main rivals for the chancellery presented themselves as natural governing partners after Angela Merkel departs.
In a 90-minute debate that was one of the last opportunities for Laschet to spark his flagging campaign, frontrunner Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats and Green candidate Annalena Baerbock at times joined forces. Scholz made it clear that his party favors forming a coalition with the Greens after the Sept. 26 election.