The Social Democratic Party (SPD) today officially confirmed Olaf Solz as chancellor candidate for the February 23 election, with the support of almost all of the 600 delegates participating in the party’s electoral and program conference in Berlin. Mr. Scholz had previously spoken of a “damn serious” global situation, stressed that the country was at a crossroads and warned voters that, “if we take a wrong turn, we’re going to wake up the next day in a different country and that shouldn’t happen.”
Speaking to the delegates, Olaf Solz described the SPD as a party of “normal” people and repeatedly noted that the upcoming elections are a “direction decision” for Germany. “The global situation is damned serious and in this context the government is required to be careful, clear and experienced,” the chancellor said and spoke of “worrying developments”, referring to the war in Ukraine, the rise of far-right and populist forces in many countries such as Austria, but also to forces in the USA, which, as he said, “are working very purposefully to destroy the democratic institutions of the West.
Regarding the recent statements of US President-elect Donald Trump, Olaf Scholz reiterated that “the inviolability of borders applies to every country and this principle must be respected by every state, whether it is small or very large and powerful.” With an eye on Ukraine, he spoke of Russia’s “relentless aggressive war” and added that “if (Vladimir) Putin succeeds in changing borders by force, then the security of Europe as a whole will be in great danger.”
The delegates also unanimously approved the election program of the SPD, under the title “More for you. Better for Germany”, which, among other things, envisages tax breaks for 95% of the population and an increased burden on the 1% of taxpayers, rejects the cut in pensions, subsidies for companies that invest in “Made in Germany” and continued support for Ukraine – “without this happening at the expense of other investments in Germany” and without leading to an escalation of the conflict.
