Germany's Greens, CSU kick off election campaigns ahead of 23 February vote

German parties launch campaigns ahead of the country’s upcoming federal elections set for 23 February.

Transcript

00:00The German federal election is in full swing.

00:05Multiple parties have kicked off their election campaigns

00:08in what's being dubbed as one of the most crucial elections in German history.

00:12The Greens party began their campaign tour in Lübeck,

00:15where some 1,200 people attended.

00:18The event was headlined by Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck

00:21and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

00:24The Greens were quick to attack their competition,

00:27accusing previous governments under the Christian Democratic Union Party

00:31of plunging the country into economic turmoil.

00:34The Greens promised to continue on the path of making Germany greener

00:38and pledged to continue advancing renewable energy projects.

00:42Habeck says the party's economic outlook is designed

00:45to address issues of concern to ordinary Germans,

00:48like rising rents and scarce job opportunities.

00:52He adds that unlike his rivals,

00:54he will implement policy that will make Germany affordable again.

00:58These are real problems that will not disappear,

01:01even if the majority of the government changes.

01:04And that's why we have to give answers in this election campaign

01:07that take these and other problems, such big problems, seriously

01:12and give answers that are as big as the problems.

01:16We need a policy that is ready to question

01:19what has been set as rules in the past.

01:23The Christian Social Union Party also held a meeting

01:26in preparation for the upcoming elections.

01:29The party organized a three-day event in Bavaria,

01:32which reportedly featured businessmen and foreign politicians as attendees.

01:36The party's chairman, Markus Söder, presented a very different approach,

01:40instead opting to abort green policies,

01:43which he labeled as ineffective and expensive.

01:46His party pledges to vastly increase investment

01:48in areas like the auto industry, research and innovation,

01:51new technology and defense industries.

01:54All areas the CSU accused the ruling coalition of ignoring.

02:16The CSU has already ruled out any possible coalition with the Greens

02:20in the upcoming federal election.

02:23Voters are faced with a critical decision on the 23rd of February

02:27in an election with a lot at stake.