Scholz vows to avoid cooperation with far-right

"We will never, truly never have a common ground with the far-right," Scholz told the German parliament ahead of the February 23 election, Reuters reported.

He also accused his conservative rival for chancellor Friedrich Mertz of breaking his promises by accepting the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is in second place in opinion polls behind Mertz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), and the CDU/CSU are expected to have the largest share of the vote in the upcoming election. The far-right party is ahead of Scholz's Social Democrats in opinion polls.

All political parties in Germany have ruled out forming a coalition with the Alternative for Germany party, suggesting that negotiations to form the next government will be lengthy.

Analysts warn that the far-right party is gaining “increasing influence in public opinion” in Germany as parliamentary elections approach and immigration is a key issue for voters.