COALITION COMPLICATIONS
Speaking in his Potsdam district near Berlin, Scholz spoke to voters’ feelings of “uncertainty” and said halting the rise of the AfD was a “central task” of the election.
But Merz, appearing certain he would cruise to victory, told supporters that “the left is over”, while also ruling out the possibility of forming a government with the AfD.
“There is no left majority and no left politics anymore in Germany,” Merz told a raucous beer hall, sketching out a plan to curtail benefits, cut red tape and tighten immigration.
With the conservatives heading the next government, he said, Germany would have a “strong voice in the European Union” again at a crucial time for the continent.
“Europe must become stronger again and Germany must become more involved in the European Union,” Merz said.
