Frontrunner to replace Merkel on defensive in TV debate

By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — The frontrunner to replace Angela Merkel as German chancellor has faced tough questions over whether his ministry had a role in obstructing money-laundering probes. Olaf Scholz of the center-left Social Democrats denied in a pre-election debate Sunday that his finance ministry was being directly investigated by prosecutors who carried out searches at the finance and justice ministries. The first debate two weeks ago was widely called for Scholz, whose party leads in opinion polls ahead of Merkel’s center-right Union bloc. Its candidate Armin Laschet has struggled to gain traction in the campaign. Green party candidate Annalena Baerbock largely refrained from personal attacks on her rivals and focused instead on social justice and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.