Following this election campaign's only face-off between Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz, one thing is clearer than ever – please, not another grand coalition government! That's DW editor Christoph Strack's wish.
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Highlights from Merkel/Schulz TV debate
01:47
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Image: WDR/Herby Sachs
That wasn't a contest. That was barely an exchange of blows. The so-called "TV duel" as it was coined across the five major German broadcasters, was probably the weakest since the format was launched in 2002. And it said as much about German politics as it did about German television.
Together, not against
Chancellor Angela Merkel lined up against (or, more precisely, alongside) her Social Democrat (SPD) rival Martin Schulz. It was a television debate featuring two politicians - whose respective parties have been governing Germany together as a coalition for the last four years - up against a quartet of journalists, as the public was forced to stay quiet and watch on.
In spite of Germany's booming economy, social strains still remain prevalent. However, watching Sunday's debate, you would be forgiven for thinking that wasn't case, as the issue was barely mentioned over the course of 97 minutes. The hardships facing many families, the challenges (and opportunities) posed by digitalization and technology, and the globalization of jobs and education - all issues that apparently didn't merit even a mention.
Christoph Strack for DW in BerlinImage: DW
Instead, it was as though we were taken back to 2015, as the debate largely centered on the on the intake and integration of migrants.
Of course, the politicians must also face the anger that has been bubbling to the surface over the past two years, in cities as well as in rural areas. But once again populism successfully undermined the diligence and professionalism of the political profession.
There were some noteworthy foreign policy points, however. On Turkey, both candidates announced a bold change of direction: no more negotiations on expanding the customs union and no more EU accession talks. The SPD wanted to keep the option of EU membership open, while the conservative Union parties have longed sought to prevent it altogether. And in the face of the autocrat in Ankara, who seemingly takes Germans hostages at will, Germany policy towards Turkey is now shifting significantly.
Second, on the current crisis in North Korea, Merkel was simply able to rely on her experience as a stateswoman and list her upcoming calls with Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.
Third, Merkel and Schulz both agreed that Qatar was not a suitable host country for the World Cup in 2022. It's rare to hear a politician, let alone two, express it so bluntly. Let's bear that it mind the next time we see state leaders travelling to the Gulf state with their entourage trade representatives.
Melinda Crane and Thorsten Benner analyze the Merkel/Schulz TV debate
06:49
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Petering out
If the 97 minutes of debating had anything to show, then it was that Germany no longer needs a grand coalition. Please, no more. The two parties have been occupying the Bundestag together for far too long.
Besides, it was clear to see Sunday evening that they can clearly hardly stand each other anymore. They know every single crack in the other's wall.
Democracy needs a strong government, but it also needs strong opposition. A debate with a proper opposition simply peters out.
Since 2005, the television debate has remained a one-off spectacle in each federal election. It's better this way. The German system is a tried and tested parliamentary democracy, rather than a presidential democracy. (After all, the multitude of debates in the US helped Trump climb up in the polls ahead of last year's presidential vote.)
The German system focuses on a choice of parties, not a head of government. A parliamentary democracy needs strong policies and the voice of an opposition. On Sunday evening, we saw both these factors come to the fore, as tens of millions of engaged Germans voters watched on.
A timeline of Germany's 2017 elections
With three state elections and the Bundestag vote in the fall, 2017 is a decisive year in German politics. DW looks at key dates leading up to this fall's federal election.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Rehder
Germany's big election year
The stakes are high for Germany's election year. With Chancellor Angela Merkel up for a fourth term and the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party attempting to cash in on anti-migrant sentiment, one thing is clear - German politics won't be the same by the end of 2017. Here's a look at the most important dates.
Image: Getty Images
March 26 - Saarland state parliament election
Germany's "super election year" kicked off in the small western state of Saarland, on the French border. Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) came out on top, snagging over 40 percent of the vote and securing a third term for state premier Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (L). The populist AfD will also enter Saarland's parliament for the first time after claiming 6.2 percent of the vote.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Kappeler
May 7 - CDU victory in Schleswig-Holstein
State elections in northern Schleswig-Holstein saw Merkel's CDU overtaking the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in a surprising upset. The CDU, led by top candidate Daniel Günther (above), won 32 percent of the vote while the SPD dropped three points to 27 percent. Anti-immigrant AfD will also enter the Schleswig-Holstein parliament after clearing the 5 percent hurdle.
Image: Getty Images/M. MacMatzen
May 14 - All eyes on NRW election
The CDU pulled off one of it's biggest victories yet, unseating the SPD in its stronghold in North Rhine-Westphalia. The business-friendly FDP also made significant gains and the AfD will also enter parliament after getting 7 percent. As Germany's most populous state with around 18 million residents, the NRW poll is seen as a test run for how the federal election will play out in September.
Image: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach
June 19 - Party applications due
The 97th day before the election is the cut off date for any party to announce its intention to run for the Bundestag. They have to submit their applications by 6 p.m. to the Federal Returning Officer. Roderich Egeler (above) oversees the election and heads Germany's Statistical Office.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Burgi
July 7 - Who is allowed in?
On the 79th day before the election, the parties that are allowed to take part in the election are announced by the Federal Returning Officer. If a party does not agree with decision, it has four days to file a complaint with Germany's Constitutional Court.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/U. Deck
July 17 - Who made the list?
Political parties in Germany have until the 69th day before the election to determine which candidates will be running in which constituency. These representatives make up the first vote on Germany's split ballot. Parties must also submit a list of candidates for the party vote on the second half of the ballot.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Berg
July 27 - Fighting for a spot on the ballot
Smaller parties that filed a suit with the Constitutional Court to be allowed to take part in the election will receive their verdicts today. This option has only been available since the last Bundestag election in 2013. At that time, 11 parties petitioned the court to appear on the ballot - but none were successful.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/W. Steinberg
August 13 - Campaigning officially begins
Unlike other countries, parties in Germany cannot put up campaign posters or run TV ads until 6 weeks before the election. But on August 13, the campaign floodgates open and no lamp post will be safe from the cardboard visages of each party's main candidates.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Balk
August 20 - Who can vote?
A little over one month shy of the election, the most important list is compiled - the electoral register or voter list. In Germany, every citizen who is 18 years or older can vote in the general election - meaning there are 61.5 million eligible voters this year.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K.-D. Gabbert
September 3 - Three weeks to go
At this point, all eligible voters should have recieved an authorization certificate in the mail. People who aren't already on the voter list still have time to register. Those who wish to vote-by-mail can request their ballot.
Image: picture-alliance/R. Goldmann
September 18 - Prepping the polls
Less than a week to go and preparations are kicking into high gear. Ballots, polling booths and transport boxes start rolling in and election workers are trained. Local authorities must inform voters where they should go to vote. Residents can still register until 36 hours before the election.
Image: picture-alliance/R. Goldmann
September 24 - Election day
The big day has finally arrived. Schools, gym halls and community centers are transformed as people arrive to cast their ballots. Polling stations open at 8:00 a.m. sharp and at 6:00 p.m. they close again. The votes are tallied and the Federal Returning Officer announces the preliminary results that same night.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
September 25 - Winners and Losers
Only after all of the representative and party votes are counted, the final result is announced. If a candidate did not win his or her constituency, they could still get a seat in the Bundestag if they made the party's regional list.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Kappeler
October 24 - The 19th Bundestag convenes
The newly elected parliament must meet for the first time no later than one month after the election. Afterwards comes the tricky work of coalition negotiations, followed by a secret ballot to elect the next chancellor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
November 24 - Everything fair-and-square?
If anyone wants to challenge the validity of the election, they have two months to do so. All voters, the state election overseers, the president of the Bundestag and the Federal Election Commissioner (above) are entitled to appeal the result.
