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Germany's SPD nominates Olaf Scholz for chancellor again

January 11, 2025

Incumbent German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a politics for "ordinary people" during the Social Democrats' party congress. The SPD is currently polling in third place.

https://p.dw.com/p/4p3m8
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz holding bouquet in front of podium reading "Mehr fuer dich, besser fuer Deutschland" slogan at party congress
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) have thrown their support behind the leadership of incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of federal electionsImage: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

On Saturday, Germany's ruling Social Democrats (SPD) formally declared incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz the party's candidate for federal elections scheduled for February 23.

SPD delegates at the party congress in Berlin overwhelmingly voted to maintain Scholz's leadership, with only a few delegates opposing.

Germany at 'crossroads'

During a speech at the conference, Scholz said that Germany was standing at a "crossroads."

He called for fair wages, affordable housing and stable pensions for "ordinary people" while accusing his main challenger, the CDU/CSU conservative alliance, of engaging in politics designed "for the top 10%."

SPD party delegates at congress holding up "D" cards during vote on Olaf Scholz's candidacy for chancellor; Olaf Scholz is seen seated with his hands crossed among delegates
The vast majority of SPD delegates voted in favor of nominating Scholz for chancellorImage: Liesa Johannssen/REUTERS

He said it was unclear what the CDU/CSU stood for and argued that it had not developed clear policies to tackle the country's labor shortage or the transition towards clean energy.

Scholz also called for the principles of sovereign borders to be protected, days after US President-elect Donald Trump alluded to the US exerting control over Greenland.

"This is a principle that every state must abide by, whether it's a small state or a big and powerful one," Scholz said.

"No country is the backyard of another, no country should have to fear its bigger neighbors. That is a central part of what we call Western values."

In 2021, 96.2% of delegates voted in favor of nominating Scholz for chancellor in a secret ballot. The SPD became the largest party in parliament, leading Scholz to form a coalition government with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

SPD behind CDU, AfD in polls

Late last year, Scholz's coalition collapsed after the chancellor dismissed former Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP, paving the way for snap elections.

Recent polling indicates that the SPD could take third place in the February election, falling behind the CDU/CSU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Scholz: Inviolability of borders must be upheld

At a news conference in Hamburg, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz called for "fundamental change" and vowed to establish a "government that stops arguing" in an allusion to public spats between partners in Scholz's coalition.

Also on Saturday, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) held a campaign event that was protested by thousands of demonstrators. The party formally nominated co-leader Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor. 

sdi/lo (AP, dpa, Reuters)