Robert Habeck Declines TV Debate with Alice Weidel, ARD and ZDF Cancel Event

The planned debate between the Green and AfD candidates will not proceed, with broadcasters reallocating airtime and exploring alternative formats.

Robert Habeck, the Green Party's chancellor candidate, formally declined to participate in a televised debate with AfD's Alice Weidel, leading ARD and ZDF to cancel the event scheduled for February 10.
Habeck cited concerns over fairness and questioned the justification for a one-on-one debate with Weidel, emphasizing the need for equal representation in election coverage.
The only remaining televised debate before the February 23 Bundestag election will be between Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Friedrich Merz (CDU) on February 9, with RTL hosting a similar event a week later.
ARD and ZDF are exploring alternative formats to ensure representation of both Habeck and Weidel, including potential participation in multi-candidate discussions and audience-driven forums.
Other politicians, including Christian Lindner (FDP) and Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), had offered to step in for the canceled debate, but no replacement was arranged.