BERLIN Nov. 22 (DPA/EP) –
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) has named the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz, as its electoral candidate, after the debate about a possible succession resurfaced in recent weeks due to the poor data predicted by the polls ahead of the February elections.
“We want to enter the next election campaign with Olaf Scholz,” said one of the party leaders, Lars Klingbeil. The candidacy will be formalized in a meeting that will take place next Monday, after the Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, also ruled out a possible alternative candidacy.
Pistorius has publicly given his support to Scholz, who “represents reason and prudence.” “It is especially important in times like these, in times of global unrest and dangerous populist attacks on democracy around the world,” he stressed.
Scholz, 66, has served as chancellor since 2021, and faces the electoral advance without guarantees. The breakup of the government coalition has ended up damaging its image and the SPD oscillates in voting intention between 14 and 16 percent.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian partner (CSU) instead exceed 30 percent, so the favorite to lead the future Government is the current leader of the opposition, Friedrich Merz, who may need other partners to obtain a majority in the Bundestag, the Lower House of Parliament.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) aspires to sneak into second position – its voting intention ranges between 17 and 19 percent. For the first time, this party presents its own candidacy for the chancellorship led by its leader, Alice Weidel, who will be proclaimed on December 8.