- Title: Germany's FDP mocks Merkel-Schulz TV debate
- Date: 4th September 2017
- Summary: APPLAUSE LINDNER SPEAKING ON STAGE APPLAUSE (SOUNDBITE) (German) FREE DEMOCRATS (FDP) LEADER, CHRISTIAN LINDNER, SAYING (ON LAST NIGHT'S TV DEBATE BETWEEN MERKEL AND SCHULZ): "Did you count how many times they thanked each other? 'Thank you very much, Mr. Schulz,' 'I am thankful to Mrs. Merkel,' 'Great, Mrs. Merkel.' This was not the dispute about political alternatives which we need in Germany, ladies and gentlemen. This was not a debate, this was a duet and we could have lived without it." APPLAUSE FOR LINDNER FDP BALLOON PAN ACROSS AUDIENCE AND LINDNER ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 18th September 2017 11:56
- Keywords: campaign FDP Lindner Gillamoos Merkel Schulz TV debate
- Location: ABENSBERG, GERMANY
- City: ABENSBERG, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0026X6IYBR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The leader of Germany's Free Democrats (FDP) accused Chancellor Angela Merkel and her challenger Martin Schulz on Monday (September 4) of avoiding confrontation in order to continue their grand coalition government after the general election later this month.
Speaking at the traditional Gillamoos fair in Bavaria, Christian Lindner asked supporters whether they had counted how many times the two top candidates thanked each other in Sunday's TV debate.
Lindner said it was not a debate but a "duet" and that "we could have lived without it."
The business-friendly FDP was the junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's 2009-13 conservative-led coalition but failed to clear the 5 percent threshold to win seats in the current lower house Bundestag.
Recent polls say the FDP may count on between 7 and 10 percent in the Sept. 24 general election. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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