German parties have selected their candidates for chancellor ahead of the upcoming snap elections for the Bundestag.
On January 11, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) announced their nominees for the chancellorship. The SPD reaffirmed current Chancellor Olaf Scholz as their candidate, while the AfD unanimously nominated party co-chair Alice Weidel.
Scholz pledged to raise the minimum wage to €15, improve social protections for families, and combat xenophobia. Weidel advocated for closing national borders and for Germany’s withdrawal from the EU, blaming the union for harming the country’s economy.
The AfD’s congress in Riesa faced large-scale protests, delaying the event’s start. The political situation in Germany has intensified since the dissolution of the government led by Scholz on December 16. Snap elections are scheduled for February 23, 2025.
