Olaf Scholz names Social Democratic Party candidate for Germany’s snap elections
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz adresses the audience as members of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) meet to name him as candidate for the Chancellery in the oncoming elections in February 2025, at the SPD headquarters in Berlin on November 25, 2024. (AFP Photo)
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has officially nominated Chancellor Olaf Scholz as its candidate for Germany‘s snap federal elections, scheduled for February 23, 2025.
The decision comes after the collapse of the coalition government earlier this month, prompting early elections. The SPD’s federal executive board unanimously backed Scholz, 66, during a meeting on Monday.
The nomination is set to be formally confirmed at a party congress in January.
Difficult path ahead for Scholz
Despite his leadership experience, Scholz faces significant challenges in securing a second term. Recent opinion polls show his approval ratings at just 14%, the lowest for any post-war chancellor.
Public dissatisfaction has been attributed to internal disputes within his three-way coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP), as well as concerns over economic challenges.
The CDU-CSU opposition alliance currently leads in polls with 33%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 18%, while the SPD trails at around 15%.
SPD emphasizes experience amid criticism
SPD co-chairs Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken expressed confidence in Scholz’s ability to navigate the challenges facing Germany.
“Olaf Scholz has demonstrated steady leadership through unprecedented crises,” Esken said, urging party members to unite behind him.
Scholz’s cautious approach to military support for Ukraine, including his refusal to send long-range missiles, has drawn mixed reactions.
While critics accuse him of indecisiveness, recent surveys show that 61% of Germans support his stance.
Campaign focus and opposition reactions
SPD officials plan to highlight Scholz’s experience and ability to manage crises as key campaign themes.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have welcomed Scholz’s nomination, with CDU lawmaker Mathias Middelberg stating that Scholz is a less formidable opponent than Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who ruled himself out of the race last week.
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