With four weeks to go before the German general election, three candidates vying for the chancellor's title clashed in a televised debate on Sunday.
The main topics discussed were the Afghanistan crisis, climate change, the coronavirus epidemic as well as domestic policies.
Armin Laschet, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) conservative party, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic (SPD), and Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock took part in the two-hour televised debate on German television stations.
In the wake of the conflict in Afghanistan, following the withdrawal of NATO troops from the country, all three candidates have said there is a need for Germany to strengthen its influence on international security.
"As Germans, we have a responsibility in the world; if we have failed then we must at least rescue the people we have promised to bring to a safer country," Baerbock said.
All three also oppose the introduction of more anti-corona vaccines, as well as once again forcing citizens to remain at home. All three candidates also support an increase in the number of people vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The SPD party leads
A spectator poll conducted by the RTL television station that aired the debate showed that Scholz was the most popular candidate with 38 percent, slightly ahead of Baerbock with 37 percent, while Laschet with 22 percent.
Prior to the televised debate, Scholz's SPD party gained more prominence in a recent public opinion poll conducted by the weekly Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag. The 24 percent SPD has surpassed the conservative coalition led by Chancellor Angela Merkel by three points.
The CDU and the Christian Social Union (CSU) brotherhood have received 21 percent support in the survey, which was published on Sunday. And the Green Party has won 17 percent and is said to be in a good position to form the next coalition government.
Two more debates are still expected to take place before the September 26 election when Merkel resigns from the chancellor's level.
