In the last tense phase before the German elections on the 23rd of February, Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz found themselves in front of an audience unlike any other – children –, when, in a special TV programme entitled “Can you be Chancellor (again)?” (“Kannste (nochmal) Kanzler?“), the two candidates answered unscripted questions posed to them by young interviewers aged 7-14, on Thursday, the 13th of February, reports Politico.
The children were relentless in questioning the experienced politicians on issues ranging from struggles in government to the rising price of döner kebabs.
Scholz, who was under pressure over the collapse of his coalition government, a three-party alliance that was experiencing internal disagreements, was sharply questioned:
Why had he not appointed a ” dispute settling minister” to mediate between his warring partners?
“It wouldn’t help if one side refuses to compromise,” the Chancellor replied dryly, referring to tensions with his former Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leader of the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP).
Merz, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) conservative candidate and current election leader, faced an even more personal challenge. A 14-year-old boy, Rashid, took issue with Merz’s earlier remarks about “little pashas”, which the politician used controversially in a debate about immigrant boys who allegedly lacked discipline.
“I thought you were putting me in that category,” Rashid, who was born in Germany to Syrian parents, said warmly. Merz, momentarily on the defensive, insisted that his comments had been misinterpreted: “That’s not what I meant to say.”
The children did not shy away from global crises.
Two pupils, whose families live in Belarus and Ukraine, wanted to know how Merz would end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. “We are doing everything we can,” he assured them, before saying: “But only Putin can stop it.”
In addition to the gloomy policy issues, the candidates also faced some heartfelt moments. Scholz, who is often criticised for his tough public image and restraint, was forced to answer questions using only facial expressions – until the children set the bar higher by challenging him to do that with sour sweets, prompting the Chancellor to show several insincere reactions.
Merz, on the other hand, played a game of table football with the pupils.