Greens: Climate change ignored in German election TV debate 

Generate Key TakeawaysThe televised debate between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative rival Friedrich Merz focused too heavily on migration policy and not enough on climate change, a leading politician from Germany’s Greens said on Monday.The party’s co-leader Felix Banaszak said it was telling that the “central question of survival” for current and future generations was not addressed in Sunday’s 90-minute debate.The contest saw the top two candidates to become Germany’s next leader clash over issues such as cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the war in Ukraine and tax policy.”Climate protection was not discussed, even though we are experiencing new extreme events with increasing intensity every year,” said Banaszak.Scholz and Merz were clearly not interested in debating the issue, or others such as education and childcare, the Green politician said.Instead, they spoke for half an hour on migration, said Banaszak, criticizing the candidates for competing to be the “toughest guy” on the issue and failing to express empathy for those fleeing war and hunger to reach Germany.Scholz and Merz are set to face off again on Sunday in a four-way debate with the Green candidate for chancellor, Robert Habeck, and Alice Weidel from the far-right Alternative for Germany.Felix Banaszak, co-leader of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/ Die Gruenen), gives a press statement at the start of his party’s committee meetings. Kay Nietfeld/dpa