Germany’s public broadcasters, ARD and ZDF, are coming under fire for blatantly sidelining the right-wing, anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ahead of the national elections.
In a move that reeks of political bias, the two channels have decided to only invite Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD and Friedrich Merz of the CDU to the key TV debate set for February 9. Their justification? The CDU is ahead in polls, and Merz is seen as Scholz’s main rival.
But here’s the rub: while the SPD is stuck at 16.5% in the polls, it’s the AfD, consistently polling in second place with 19.5% of the electorate, that should be sharing the stage. The AfD, led by Alice Weidel, has every right to be included in this high-profile debate, and they’ve already announced plans to sue the broadcasters for effectively ignoring their significant support.
This isn’t the first time the AfD has been excluded either—back in 2021, ARD and ZDF pulled the same stunt, only inviting candidates from the SPD, CDU, and Greens. While it’s true the AfD is unlikely to enter government due to a collective boycott by other parties, the media’s job is not to decide who gets a platform; it’s to present a fair, impartial picture to the public.
The AfD isn’t alone in being upset. The Greens, currently in government and polling at 11.5%, are also demanding a seat at the table. Their leader, Katharina Dröge, criticized ARD and ZDF for appearing to support the “grand coalition,” asking, “What kind of country is that supposed to represent?”
Even private broadcasters are getting in on the action. RTL and Stern are holding their own debates, inviting Scholz and Merz, and have announced plans to include other candidates as well. The upcoming elections, which will be held on February 23—seven months earlier than expected due to the current government’s collapse—are shaping up to be a crucial moment for German democracy. The public deserves better than a media system that openly favors one side over the other.
