Berlin, November 22, 2024 – The Europe Today: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed his bid for re-election in the upcoming federal election, following the Social Democrats’ (SPD) decision to nominate him as their lead candidate. The announcement comes amid internal party debates and a challenging political landscape.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, regarded as Germany’s most popular politician in recent polls, withdrew from consideration, urging party unity. He praised Scholz’s leadership during crises and described him as “a strong chancellor and the right candidate.”
Despite Scholz’s nomination, the SPD faces significant hurdles, with recent polls placing the party at 14-16%, trailing behind the Christian Democrats (CDU) at 32-34% and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 18-19%. Rival politicians have criticized Scholz’s candidacy, pointing to internal divisions within the SPD.
Scholz, however, remains optimistic, citing the SPD’s previous comeback in 2021 as a precedent for potential success.
