Overview

• RTL announces an expanded televised debate featuring four leading chancellor candidates, including Merz, Scholz, Habeck, and Weidel, marking a shift from traditional two-person formats.
• Protests erupt nationwide against Friedrich Merz and the CDU following the party's alignment with the AfD on migration legislation, drawing tens of thousands of demonstrators in major cities.
• The FDP proposes a 'Migrationspakt der Mitte' to unify democratic parties on migration policy, but faces criticism for its inconsistent stance and internal divisions on the issue.
• Housing remains a key election topic, with parties presenting diverging plans ranging from strengthened rent controls to deregulation of the housing market to increase supply.
• Economic policy debates focus on taxation, energy costs, and regulatory reforms, with Merz emphasizing industrial competitiveness and Lindner advocating tax cuts and reduced bureaucracy.