TV duel in the live ticker: Weidel against Wagenknecht from 6 p.m. on Welt TV

TV duel Weidel against Wagenknecht in the live ticker

6:11 p.m.: Wagenknecht first answers the topic of the debt brake – save or take out loans to invest? “You can’t get that much out of citizens’ money,” she says. When Burgard recognizes the “different socialization” here and draws Wagenknecht closer to communism, it starts rumbling. “Now they won’t come on my tour, I’m not a communist,” she says. She also doesn’t want to push citizen’s money for everyone.

6:08 p.m.: Wagenknecht immediately comes to one of her favorite topics: the return to Russian gas. “If you tell me where else we can get it cheaply, please,” she immediately forestalls other ideas. “That’s an idea, what’s next?” asks Burgard after Wagenknecht stays on this topic for a long time. Secondly, she also mentions better education policy, as it “currently depends a lot on which parents you have”. The third topic is infrastructure. “You also have to finance investments through loans,” she begins, before Burgard interrupts and asks Weidel for her opinion. She agrees a lot. “There is simply no more investment – and the truth is that the state plans its money elsewhere.” She supports the debt brake, but wants “to save on unnecessary expenses, especially social expenses.” Above all, that migrants also “unite Billions in citizens’ money will not be financed in the long term.

6:05 p.m.: Burgard asks what three things Weidel would do differently in economic policy. “Germany suffers from traffic lights,” says Weidel – and then names a responsible energy policy with openness to technology, a better level of training and a reduction in the tax burden as measures that she would implement. “People must be able to live from their work again. This green policy must not be continued.”

6:03 p.m.: “The election campaign thrives on exaggerated language,” defends Weidel and says that people want “real political change.” “And that is not possible with the old parties. Saying that isn’t a disgrace.” “But you don’t know what we’re discussing in the coalition negotiations,” says Wagenknecht. “We will only enter a coalition if significant things change.” Then she wants to address issues, but Burgard slows down and wants to approach it in a structured way – “one thing at a time.”

6 p.m.: Let’s go! Jan Philipp Burgard, editor-in-chief of Welt, opens the duel. First he explains the rules: equal speaking time for both and a fact check for Welt the following day. “I think we are both looking forward to this duel,” Weidel starts and expects a “stimulating discussion.” Wagenknecht is hoping for a “factual discussion that makes it clear to voters where the differences lie.” She is committed to ensuring that the AfD is dealt with fairly – but she also calls on the AfD to do the same in turn. “In advance, she described me as a useful idiot, as a stirrup holder of the old parties – I find that disgraceful.”

5:57 p.m.: GIt gets off to a quick start with the exchange of blows between the two politicians – FOCUS online is there in the live ticker.

Weidel and Wagenknecht meet for a discussion on Welt TV

Wednesday, October 9th, 3:00 p.m.: AfD leader Alice Weidel says she is not looking for a fight in the planned TV duel with party founder Sahra Wagenknecht. “I don’t think there would be any reason to be confrontational in any way,” said Weidel when asked whether, in her view, the duel with Wagenknecht would be more confrontational or cozy. “I believe that you have to deal fairly with every political competitor.”

The problems in Germany can no longer be solved if solutions are not discussed across camps. “You can only come to a holistic solution across camps by finally having a conversation and not somehow covering yourself with strange firewalls and requests for a ban,” said Weidel.

When asked about the planned TV duel, Wagenknecht also said: “I think it is sensible and right to deal with the content of the AfD.” She is confident that she will argue objectively with Weidel and “the differences may also be for many voters also become clearer.” You would be doing the AfD a favor if you avoided the debate.

The motion in the Bundestag for an AfD ban is “the stupidest motion of this year, perhaps the stupidest motion of this legislature,” said the chairwoman of the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht.

The two women will appear in a joint live broadcast on Welt TV on Wednesday evening (6 p.m.). According to the broadcaster, topics will include migration, economic and social policy as well as the Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict.

Wagenknecht had originally described her party as a “serious offer” for those who vote AfD in protest. For some time now, she has been advocating not reflexively rejecting what comes from the AfD. A different way of dealing with the party is needed.