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23 September 2021 Sparks at the TV debate between the "Sptizenkandidaten" in the German elections, broadcast on the Ard and Zdf broadcasters. According to the candidate for the Green Chancellery,

Annalena Baerbock

, "the political line towards China must be tougher" than that pursued in recent years by Angela Merkel. "We Greens are in favor of a line of toughness and dialogue", said the leader of the environmentalist party, who strongly criticized the investment agreement between the EU and China.



On the other hand, the leader of the liberals,

Christian Lindner

, wanted to underline the importance of "economic interests" with Beijing.



"Defending at the same time the values ​​and economic interests is very difficult in practice", said the head of the CSU,

Markus Soeder

, adding that "in this the chancellery certainly has a lot to tell".



A still different line is that of the AFD group leader,

Alice Weidel

, who considers it "crucial" to maintain a full dialogue with Beijing. And, answering a question on the defense of human rights in China, he pronounced: "Perhaps we must first start with the defense of human rights in Germany".



Linke's German left is in favor of another construction of international security. This was explained by the leading candidate of the German Linke,

Janine Wissler

, at the final televised debate, in view of next Sunday's polls. NATO is outdated, according to Linke, but, she added, "it cannot be decided to dissolve NATO in a legislature".



"I understand the French irritation very well compared to what happened." German vice-chancellor

Olaf Scholz

, the SPD candidate for chancellery, said this during the final televised debate with six other leading party candidates, commenting on the diplomatic crisis of submarines. "And this is understood by the whole government". Scholz stressed that it is "important for Europe to speak more and more with one voice". However, Scholz also stressed the value of collaboration with the US "even in critical moments like this".   



In addition, the current Minister of Finance affirms that in this context "even NATO remains one of the pillars of our foreign policy. It is essential that some principles remain firm, including relations with the United States".



Even the challenger of CDU / CSU to the chancellery,

Armin Laschet

, said he was in favor of "a sovereign and stronger Europe".

Always in order to better face the international crises, Laschet has returned to propose the establishment of "a national security council" at the chancellery.