Limiting Germany's refugee intake is a major issue in the campaign for the February 23 federal election, with the conservatives and far-right parties leading polls partly thanks to promises to halt the influx.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused his main rival in Germany’s upcoming election of “constant about turns,” while Friedrich Merz, the opposition leader and front-runner, accused Scholz of leaving behind an economic “disaster.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used his likely final statement in parliament before the election to intensify his attacks on Friedrich Merz, accusing the conservative frontrunner of dividing Europe for political gain and saying his “fickleness and bluster” make him unsuitable to run the country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his likely successor, Friedrich Merz, promised no collaboration with the extreme right on Tuesday in speeches to parliament before national elections on February 23.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of stoking "class warfare" as rivals faced off in the final parliamentary session before national elections on 23. In a major speech in the Bundestag,