Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused his main rival in Germany’s upcoming election of “constant about turns,” while Friedrich Merz, the opposition leader and front-runner, accused Scholz of leaving behind an economic “disaster.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative rival Friedrich Merz faced off in a heated TV debate on Sunday, exactly two weeks before the country heads to the polls. Scholz attacked Merz - whose conservative CDU/CSU alliance is leading in the polls on around 30% ahead of the election on February 23 - over his decision last week to pass a motion on migration reform in parliament with votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz clash ahead of the February 23 election. Scholz accuses Merz of policy inconsistency, while Merz blames Scholz for economic downturn.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday accused election rival Friedrich Merz of having broken his word by accepting support from the far-right AfD to push an anti-immigration motion through parliament.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday accused his conservative rival Friedrich Merz of being ready to cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as the rivals faced off in a heated TV debate just two weeks before the country heads to the polls.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other key European leaders are deep underwater in popular support, according to a new poll from the Tyson Group national research firm.