During a heated televised debate, Thuringian CDU leader Mario Voigt and AfD right-winger Björn Höcke engaged in a bitter exchange on the German TV channel Welt. The two top candidates for the upcoming state elections in Thuringia accused each other of damaging Germany and the German economy, while also launching personal attacks against one another.
The debate stems from a disagreement on European policy that began on social media, which led to the decision to engage in a televised duel. Both candidates had differing views on Europe, with Voigt warning against the consequences of Höcke’s European policy ideas and Höcke advocating for Germany to leave the EU and form a loose alliance of European states. Voigt rejected the idea of collaboration with Höcke and emphasized the importance of the EU as a protector for Germany.
Other topics discussed in the TV duel included the war in Ukraine, the culture of remembrance, and migration policy. Höcke defended his use of the Nazi slogan “Everything for Germany” ahead of trial, claiming it was a freely interpreted translation of Donald Trump’s “America First.” The debate lasted longer than planned and covered a wide range of controversial topics.
The TV duel, held on the anniversary of Buchenwald concentration camp liberation near Weimar, sparked criticism for giving a right-wing extremist like Höcke a nationwide stage. The upcoming state elections in Thuringia on September 1st will see Voigt representing CDU and Höcke representing AfD. The AfD is currently leading in surveys in Thuringia with CDU in second place. Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, who leads red-red-green minority government, is also running in election.
