The executive board of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) has unanimously selected Olaf Scholz as their candidate for chancellor in the upcoming federal elections in February 2025.
This decision follows intense and sometimes contentious debates within the party, particularly after the collapse of the current coalition.
Despite Scholz’s low approval ratings, which led some SPD members to advocate for a more popular figure like Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the SPD ultimately rallied behind the incumbent chancellor. Pistorius, however, confirmed last Thursday that he would not run for chancellor on behalf of the SPD.
SPD leader Saskia Esken acknowledged the contentious nature of the discussions surrounding the candidacy. “No, we did not leave a good impression while nominating our candidate for chancellor,” Esken stated at the federal congress in Halle.
Scholz now faces a confirmation vote at the SPD party conference on January 11, ahead of the election scheduled for February 23. In the meantime, he plans to call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag on December 16.
