Angela Merkel Defeated her Opponent Martin Schulz in a TV Debate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defeated Social Democrat Martin Schulz in a TV debate last night, according to a study by ARD Television.

Three weeks before the parliamentary elections in Germany, the two main contenders for the chancellery stood up against each other in a television debate. Refugees, Turkey, and relations with US President Donald Trump were the main topics involved in the debate.
49 per cent of viewers watching the TV debate believe Merkel is more convincing and more suitable for Germany's leader in the current global situatuion. For 29%, Social Democrat Schulz was better off.

The two contenders participated in a 97-minute TV debate ahead of German parliamentary elections on September 24th. At the beginning, Schulz adopted a more aggressive approach. The first hot topic was Turkey. Martin Schultz said: "If I become Chancellor, I will stop Turkey's membership talks with the European Union." Merkel replied: "I have never been sure Turkey will join the EU, and now I will look carefully at the options." She said it was for immediate suspension of pre-accession aid for Turkey, but she had to talk with other European leaders on a common position to end the membership talks.

Schulz attacked her for her refugee policy by accusing her of releasing refugees in the country in September 2015 without discussing it with her European counterparts, DPA reported. Merkel defended her decision not to close the borders to the refugees. "We can not target water cannons" against those who are trying to enter Germany, she said, pointing out that the federal republic has very long borders that are hard to control. For the chancellor, who struggles for the fourth mandate, the migrants turned out to be a severe test, which brought a temporary...