The German leader prepares for a tough election campaign following coalition collapse.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has unanimously endorsed Olaf Scholz as its candidate for chancellor in Germany’s upcoming general election, scheduled for February 23. Scholz, who has led Germany since December 2021, faces an uphill battle as his approval ratings lag and his coalition government collapsed earlier this month.
Scholz’s SPD, in partnership with the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), formed the so-called “traffic light” coalition that governed Germany for nearly two years. However, the alliance disintegrated after FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner was dismissed, leaving the country in political turmoil.
SPD Rallies Around Scholz
SPD co-leaders Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil announced on Monday that Scholz had the unanimous support of the party to lead its campaign.
“It will be cold on the streets, but we have long since reached working temperature,” Esken said at a press conference in Berlin, describing the upcoming election as a “short, sharp battle.” She praised Scholz as “principled and determined,” contrasting him with his chief rival, Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), whom she criticized for lacking governing experience.
A Crowded Race for Chancellorship
The election will feature four candidates for the first time in German history. Alongside Scholz, the CDU has nominated 69-year-old Friedrich Merz. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to put forward its leader, Alice Weidel, at its convention on December 7, while the Greens have chosen Robert Habeck, Scholz’s former coalition partner.
Speculation had swirled about whether the SPD might instead nominate Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, whose popularity has outpaced Scholz in recent polls. Pistorius, however, declined to enter the race last week. Scholz addressed the rumors, emphasizing their close relationship:
“We have been friends for a very, very long time. Because of his competence and our friendship, I asked him to become federal minister of defense, and now we want to lead and win this election campaign together.”
Polling and Political Challenges
Recent polls place the CDU/CSU bloc at 34%, followed by AfD at 18%, the SPD at 16%, the Greens at 12%, and the FDP and the new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) at 5% and 6%, respectively.
The election will also unfold amid growing tensions over the far-right AfD. Earlier this month, 113 Bundestag members submitted a motion to ban the party, alleging its views clash with Germany’s constitution. The proposal has garnered support primarily from Greens, along with 31 SPD members and six from the CDU.
With Scholz facing declining public support and a fractured political landscape, the upcoming election is poised to be one of the most closely watched in Germany’s recent history.
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