BERLIN, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A proposal by Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz to hold another TV debate between himself and Angela Merkel before national elections next week was rejected by the incumbent chancellor on Wednesday.
"Everything on this subject has already been said," a statement from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters read. Merkel had been "happy to be participative" in the first duel, a well-proven format, and did not intend to appear in another confrontation.
When addressing audience questions on ZDF national television on Tuesday night, Schulz complained that there were many subjects, including digitalization, labor, retirement and education, which he had still not been able to discuss directly with Merkel.
"I have therefore written a letter to Ms. Merkel and challenged her to accept another duel with me," he said.
Xinhua has obtained the letter addressed by the SPD leader to the German chancellor.
Schulz wrote in the document that "citizens deserved to hear a comprehensive debate concerning the central questions surrounding the country's future." The former president of the European Parliament further said that he was ready to participate in another debate "anytime."
Having received Merkel's rejection of the proposal via the CDU party offices, Schulz replied that he was "astonished" that the chancellor had not made the effort to respond to him directly.
With barely a week left to go before the elections, Schulz continues to trail behind the CDU and the Christian Social Union (CSU) in polls. A recent "ARD- DeutschlandTrend" survey suggests that previously expressed hopes that the SPD would benefit from the first, and so far only, TV duel have been disappointed.
The SPD was favored by 21 percent of respondents in the survey conducted regularly by the "infratest dimap" institute, dropping by 2 percentage points compared with its last reading. In contrast, support for the CDU-CSU sister parties held steady at a combined 37 percent.
Merkel enjoyed an even more comfortable lead when respondents were asked whom they would elect directly as chancellor. The share of those polled who favored the CDU leader surged by 5 percentage points to 54 percent, while Schulz witnessed no change in his reading at 26 percent.
German voters will elect a new federal parliament on Sept. 24.
