In the first triall, at least Afghanistan was discussed and whether the federal government was guilty of negligence in rescuing German citizens and Afghan local staff. During the second round of discussion between the three candidates for chancellor, there was silence on European, foreign and security policy. Baerbock, Laschet and Scholz were not asked a single question about the subject complexes, which were not entirely unimportant for Germany. Not a single one! One wonders what the questioners from ARD and ZDF and the editorial teams who worked on them were thinking. Forget? Not decisive for the election?
Baerbock would have liked to have known how Germany should position itself in the new cold war between America and China;
von Scholz, how he would like to guarantee the stability of finances in the EU and finance the Bundeswehr;
von Laschet on how he would shape the relationship with Putin's Russia.
All three could have spoken out about Germany's role, interests and ambitions in a world in which old securities have faltered (keyword America), and about the great expectations of our country - a country that depends on open, free markets and from the fact that the rules are respected.
Perhaps the three applicants have an idea of Germany in the world of tomorrow.
They were not asked about it.
That is unfortunate.