Christoph Soeder / EPA
Olaf Scholz
Chancellor elected as Social Democrat candidate for early elections. If he is re-elected, it will be a big surprise.
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was formally elected this Saturday as candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to the early elections of February 23rd.
The 600 delegates who participated in the Social Democratic Congress in Berlin chose Scholz by a overwhelming majority, com just five votes against.
Shortly before, Scholz criticized the Christian Democratic bloc and the extreme right, the first and second forces in the polls – which only place the SPD in third place.
The candidate had begun his intervention with a alert about the situation in , where the far right was tasked with forming a government after talks between the remaining parties failed.
“This is devastating, we cannot just take note of this without doing anything,” said Scholz, implicitly pointing to the danger that the poll favorite, Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz (CDU), could break his promise not to cooperate with the Alternative for Germany (AfD, extreme right), given that it will not predictably have an absolute majority to govern.
“There are forces that resort to incitement and to division as a political model”, he stated, referring to the AfD, and stressed that, however, “the majority of Germany knows this” and therefore supports the democratic forces.
Scholz spoke of a world in which the situation is “very serious”, due to the war in Ukraine, the rise of right-wing populism and nationalism and also the uncertainty about relations with the United States following the inauguration of Donald Trump as North American President, on the 20th. “Germany is in a crossroads. If on February 23rd we take the wrong exit, we will wake up in another country”, he stated.
Scholz accused his main rival, the conservative Merz, of wanting to apply “old recipes” and carry out politics “behind the backs” of the people, with an austere program that will mean, he warned, cuts in healthcare and put pensions at risk.
While the SPD wants lower taxes on low-income people and reduce VAT on foodthe Christian Democrats of the CDU intend to offer tax benefits precisely to the richest 10% of citizens, said the Social Democratic candidate. For Scholz, It is not possible to achieve a good future with “tax advantages for millionaires”.
The outgoing chancellor outlined his party’s program, with proposals to relaunch the economy, such as making massive investments in infrastructure and renewable energy and encouraging private investment in the country with a “Made in Germany” title, all financed thanks to a easing of the debt brake.
Furthermore, he promised to preserve the jobs at risk due to the difficult economic situation, increasing the minimum wage by 15 euros and stabilizing pensions, among other social measures.
At an international level, Scholz reiterated his policy of support for Ukrainepromising once again to “remain calm” and act with moderation so as not to provoke an escalation of the conflict, and recalled the recent statements by the North American President-elect, Donald Trump, about Greenland, that the principle of the inviolability of borders “is valid for everyone.”
Not a favorite
The chancellor, whose popularity plummeted During his three years in office – which meant that for some time it was considered that his party would choose another candidate for the elections – he also had a moment of self-criticism.
“Maybe I should have ended the coalition sooner”, admitted Scholz, who expelled the FDP liberals from the tripartite coalition (which also included the Greens) in November, which precipitated the call for early elections, seven months ahead of schedule.
The chancellor stated that, despite internal disputes, he tried to maintain the call for “responsibility”, but recognized that “the unity cannot be imposed by decree”.
According to an INSA survey for the newspaper published this Saturday, the SPD de Scholz would only obtain 16% of votes, behind the conservative bloc CDU-CSU, who loses a point to 30%, and from AfD, which earns two points for 22%, while the Verdes would remain in 13%.
In fact, in November, when the possibility – now confirmed – of Olaf Scholz being the SPD candidate for the elections arose, a negative reaction also came immediately: “The SPD has always had a special talent for getting into big problems without any need. THE Olaf Scholz’s chaotic election as SPD candidate for chancellor occupies a very special place in the history of stupidities self-inflicted consequences of German social democracy”, Martin Greive, specialist in politics and economics.
