The federal election is getting closer and closer.

Around 60.4 million citizens are called on this Sunday to cast their votes and thus decide on the composition of the next Bundestag.

During the last public appearances before the election, the candidates once again advertised themselves and their programs this Saturday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) appeared together with Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet in his hometown of Aachen and asked the voters for support.

At the same time, Merkel and Laschet warned against the formation of a government outside the Union.

Scholz confirms his wish to form a coalition with the Greens

SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz answered questions from citizens in his constituency in Potsdam on the last day of the election.

The topics ranged from the adjustment of East pensions to the West level (“the last step in the matter will follow”), to a lack of nursing staff (“decent pay required”) to the voting age from 16 (“should be reduced across Germany ").

In addition, Scholz has confirmed his wish for a coalition with the Greens. "This is my favorite coalition," he said. The SPD candidate for Chancellor appealed to voters to use their vote to ensure that the SPD achieved a strong result. When asked to do so, he assured the government that he would fill the government with ministers who are also good at it. "Half men and half women," he said.

In an interview with the news site Media Pioneer, which Scholz also conducted in Potsdam on Saturday, the SPD candidate also expressed reluctance to the statement by SPD Vice Kevin Kühnert that there should be a member decision of the SPD before a coalition is formed.

"We'll decide that when it comes down to it," said Scholz.

Kühnert had recently indicated that the SPD would not join a new government without asking its members to form a coalition.

In the latest polls, the SPD is ahead of the Union and the Greens.

Scholz also emphasized his good relationship with FDP leader Christian Lindner.

As a potential coalition partner, the FDP could also play a decisive role in forming a government after the general election.

Annalena Baerbock does not want to worry about a possible coalition after the general election.

"I campaign until the last minute," said the Green Chancellor candidate in Potsdam, who, like Olaf Scholz, is applying for a direct mandate in the constituency.

She does not want to participate in the mind games of others.

However, there is only real renewal with strong greens, she added.

The 40-year-old campaigned for votes in the very lively pedestrian zone of Potsdam.

Passers-by gave her a lot of approval for the Greens' climate policy.

Tourists in particular took advantage of the opportunity and asked for a selfie.

More color known FDP boss Christian Lindner.

In Düsseldorf on Saturday he announced a tough stance in possible negotiations on the formation of a government after the general election.

Just as the FDP broke off talks on a Jamaica coalition with the Union and the Greens in 2017 because Germany would have been “sent on a green-black drift to the left with marginal FDP participation”, this time too they would be steadfast.

"We are not ready to send our country on a left drift in 2021 either," he said.

One is only ready for “a government in the middle”, in which there will be no tax increases and no easing of the debt brake.

Lindner does not want any roll calls or bans

Lindner took a critical stance on the SPD and the Greens, with whom the Liberals could possibly form a traffic light coalition after the election on Sunday.

During the FDP election campaign, he assumed that these two parties were “wide open” to a coalition with the left.

In his one-hour speech, Lindner underpinned the plan to advance climate protection by cutting bureaucracy.

Approval procedures urgently need to be accelerated so that industrial companies can implement CO2-reduction projects.

Germany's industry is innovative and ready for investments, but lengthy approval procedures are a block on the leg.

When it comes to climate protection, relying on roll calls or bans - such as a speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on the autobahn - are, however, out of place, also because other countries would not go along with such a course.

“Nobody will follow us as a moral world champion, but as a technology world champion we can show people a perspective and create new growth for us.” On a square in the Düsseldorf center, almost 2,000 people listened to the speech, who applauded the liberal top politician benevolently.