German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced his intention to run for a second term in the upcoming snap election after Defence Minister Boris Pistorius ruled himself out of the race.
Pistorius published a video to SPD social media channels on Thursday evening.
I have just informed our party and parliamentary group leaders that I will not be standing as a candidate for the office of federal chancellor. This is my sovereign, personal and entirely personal decision.
As a result, the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) get the most unpopular German chancellor in history as their candidate, whereas the party is already trailing in third place. The gap in popularity between the two top politicians raised doubts whether this was the best course, as a majority in the SPD favoured Pistorius.
Pistorius fully endorsed Scholz’s candidacy for the first time on Thursday.
In Olaf Scholz, we have an outstanding federal chancellor. He has led a coalition of three parties through perhaps the biggest crisis in recent decades.
Consequently, the SPD leadership will seek Scholz’s official nomination as the party’s candidate for chancellor on Monday. However, his falling popularity puts him at a disadvantage compared to his main rival, conservatives’ candidate Friedrich Merz, experts emphasise.
The party is gaining about 15% in national polls, more than 10 points lower than in the 2021 election and less than half of the Conservatives’ 33%. The national-oriented Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ranks second with 18%. Meanwhile, the Greens, who are in fourth place with around 11%, also nominated their candidate Robert Habeck for the chancellor’s post.
