The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was appointed, on Monday, November 25, as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to form the next government after the early legislative elections of February 23, despite his popularity at its lowest point and the implosion. of the outgoing coalition.
The leadership of the center-left party has spoken out “unanimously” in his favor, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports, citing a source close to the party. Delegates must still validate their candidacy during a congress on January 11, 2025.
The outgoing chancellor, 66, who declared himself a candidate for his own succession after the breakup of the coalition with the Greens and the Liberals on November 6, subsequently had to face a revolt within the SPD, where some had spoken out in favor. of the very popular Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, but the latter resigned on Thursday to enter the race for the chancellorship.
The SPD now intends to unite behind Olaf Scholz, although the bet seems risky for Germany’s oldest party, to which around 15% of voting intentions are attributed. The conservatives of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian allies (CSU) obtained 33% and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, 18%.
Olaf Scholz ” face “ of the failure of a government marked by perpetual differences, is “Probably the weakest and least suitable candidate for chancellor that the SPD has ever put forward”judge the magazine The mirror. His coalition, in power since the end of 2021, was shattered after the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP), due to disagreements that had become insurmountable in terms of budgetary policy, amid of an industrial crisis in Europe’s largest economy.
Imperturbable, nicknamed “Scholzomat” for his monotone and endless phrases, he says he is convinced he can lead his party back to victory. He easily remembers how, in 2021, he won the elections against all odds. He then benefited greatly from the divisions in the conservative camp.
“Chancellor of Peace”
His strategy this time: present himself as the moderate man in the military support granted to Ukraine, hoping to take advantage of the deep-rooted pacifism among the Germans since World War II and an important pro-Russian current.
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According to a recent study by public television ARD, 61% of respondents approve of his refusal to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles that could allow it to attack Russian territory in depth, while the United States, France and Russia, Great Britain, gave their approval. approval. use yours for this purpose. Olaf Scholz’s recent telephone interview with Vladimir Putin has also attracted attention, especially in kyiv.
In Germany, the conservative opposition accuses him of having contributed to the “propaganda” from Moscow to carry out an electoral maneuver aimed at presenting himself as “chancellor of peace” before dangerous elections. In conservative ranks, the chancellor’s candidacy was received with relief. the decision “It’s good for us. “Pistorius would have been more unpleasant for the CDU and CSU”underlined deputy Mathias Middelberg.
Olaf Scholz, a veteran politician who was mayor of Hamburg (Bord) and vice-chancellor of Finance during Angela Merkel’s last government (2005-2021), has demonstrated on several occasions his ability to thwart predictions. In 2021 he won, presenting himself as the true heir to the conservative chancellor. This time he also aims to reassure through his experience, in a global geopolitical context tormented and plunged into the unknown by the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
The outgoing chancellor is “He has a lot, a lot of experience, he has more than one ace up his sleeve, even at the international level”party president Saskia Esken highlighted on Bavarian radio on Monday.
