In a pre-debate statement, Palmer criticizes the AfD party, labeling them as inept in handling numerous key issues.

In the debate, Palmer voices his opinion that the AfD lacks competence in various domains. - In a pre-debate statement, Palmer criticizes the AfD party, labeling them as inept in handling numerous key issues.

In the picturesque town of Tübingen, a heated debate is scheduled for Friday, pitting Boris Palmer, the independent mayor, against Markus Frohnmaier, the state chairman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The debate, aimed at highlighting the AfD's perceived incompetence on various issues, has sparked controversy and protests in the town.

The debate was made possible after the AfD offered to cancel their demonstration in Tübingen's city center in exchange for a public platform. Palmer, who has been vocal about his opposition to the AfD's policies, saw this as an opportunity to address and discuss their topics, rather than ignoring them.

The number of protesters expected to attend the debate is more than the registered 1500 people according to the city administration, with several protest calls made for the evening. Some in Tübingen are critical of Palmer for giving the AfD a platform, accusing him of unnecessarily doing so. However, Palmer believes that his strategy of addressing and discussing their topics is more effective than ignoring them.

Palmer asserts that the AfD's policies could potentially harm its own voters. He believes that the party's program reveals its inability to handle multiple issues effectively, a point he plans to make during the debate. On the other hand, the AfD has accused Palmer of being out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.

The debate is not the first time Palmer has faced off against the AfD. In mid-July, the cancellation of an AfD demonstration in Tübingen led to Palmer agreeing to the debate. Palmer aims to achieve the same goal as the protesters: to deny right-wing extremists and constitutional enemies a platform.

The upcoming debate is not well-received by all in Tübingen. Some business owners had initially feared the AfD demonstration would result in lost sales, prompting them to ask Palmer to move the demo. However, with the debate now scheduled, it remains to be seen how the town will react.

As the debate approaches, the spotlight is on Palmer and Frohnmaier. The independent mayor plans to expose the argumentative weaknesses of his counterpart, while the AfD representative will aim to defend the party's policies and values. The debate promises to be an interesting and heated affair, with both sides vying for the support of the Tübingen citizens.