Highlights from Merkel-Steinmeier television debate

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-14 15:03

BERLIN: Below are highlights from Sunday's television debate between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat (SPD) challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

FOUR YEARS OF "GRAND COALITION"

Steinmeier: "We have achieved a lot. Quite a bit of it since the crisis and we may only have done so because there was a grand coalition.

"But we haven't managed everything, we fell short of what we could do in a number of areas because the CDU didn't go along with it. For example on minimum wages and limiting executive pay. That would have helped people."

Merkel: "I think we could make more progress on jobs which is why I'm appealing for a new government.

"The past has been good and you won't change my mind about the fact that we have got a lot done. But I think for a democracy it's good when grand coalitions don't become normality."

CARMAKER OPEL

Steinmeier: "It was a long struggle. I'd like to remind you that I was involved in this long struggle. And if you want to know the difference between the two of us up here ... then just think back to January or February and imagine the conservatives had been in power with the FDP: Opel would now be dead as a doornail."

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Merkel: "The difference between us is the question of whether we need to phase out nuclear energy by 2020, or whether we can have nuclear for a while longer.

"It is, in my view, extremely important that we change to renewable energy and efficient energy as soon as possible .. but all renewable energies are subsidised ... and therefore I say (nuclear energy) would be a bridging technology but only until viable renewable energies really allow this changeover."

Steinmeier: "It is not responsible, and it is politically wrong to go back down the road of nuclear energy -- because that is what we are really talking about here.

"For eight years now, we have been phasing out of nuclear energy at the same time as investing in renewable energy, we have come a long way, we are leaders in renewable energy technology, and I guarantee you that as soon as we go down the road of extending the lifeline of nuclear energy plants ... investment in this sector will end as will the hopeful road that we were going down."