European Commission hopefuls Martin Schulz and Jean-Claude Juncker have held a second German-language head-to-head TV debate. <br /><br />European Parliament President Schulz, representing the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, faced off with Juncker, the lead candidate for the centre-right European People’s Party, in the northern city of Hamburg.<br /><br />Both men were keen to voice their revulsion for the far-right, former Luxembourg leader Juncker saying that if he were elected Commission President on the basis of fascist or racist votes, he would refuse the post.<br /><br />For German native Schulz, a high turnout should stop a seat being won by the NPD a German party often accused of holding neo-Nazi views.<br /><br />“I think it a duty of Democrats in Germany to ensure by their turnout…that propagandists of the ideology of Adolf Hitler can’t pollute the name of Germany in the European Parliament,” he said. <br /><br />“I would like to think that will happen on Sunday.”<br /><br />In the final countdown to the vote, many eyes are on the Eurosceptic AfD, Alternative for Germany Party, which wants to wave goodbye to the single currency. It has a real chance of gaining representation in Brussels.<br /><br />Angela Merkel’s conservatives however are way ahead in voting intentions, reflecting the Chancellor’s enduring popularity.
