Germany: Scholz Confirmed as SPD Candidate
Early elections will be held on February 23, 2025
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) will once again nominate scandal-plagued current Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the next election. The approval of the new nominee came after current Defense Minister Boris Pistorius withdrew his nomination. Rejecting his possible candidacy, Pistorius explained that he was not ready and that “this choice is absolutely mine, personal, and autonomous,” and also clarified that he never offered himself for the role. Pistorius called Scholz “an exceptional chancellor, the right candidate” for SPD in the early elections to be held on February 23, 2025. Scholz’s position is expected to be ratified at the party’s convention on November 25.
The support, which came when Scholz’s popularity, as he battles the worst economic crisis in Germany’s recent history, is far from solid, with only 20% saying they are satisfied with his actions. And the party base has been demanding for his replacement ever since the “traffic light coalition” broke up on November 6.
Polls, reported by Eunews, suggest a percentage of around 15% for the Social Democrats, while Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU coalition will make up around 32%, and second place for the time being will go to the right-wing AfD formation with 18-19 percent. The Greens will have between 11 and 12%, and Sahra Wagenknecht’s party (BSW) should also pass the 5% threshold.
