With 43 days until the federal election, Olaf Scholz is officially nominated as the SPD’s chancellor candidate, aiming for a significant comeback despite current polling placing the party in third. Drawing on past successes, SPD leaders express optimism for exceeding 20 percent support. Challenges persist, with Scholz viewed as emblematic of a troubled coalition. The campaign will focus on key issues like pensions and education, while Scholz seeks to shift voter sentiment through strategic messaging and public engagements.
Scholz’s Comeback Campaign: Aiming for a Turnaround
With just 43 days remaining before the federal election, the SPD finds itself in third place in the polls. Today, the party is officially nominating Olaf Scholz as its candidate for chancellor, fueled by a strong belief in the potential for a remarkable comeback.
The SPD has a history of overcoming the odds. The 2021 federal election serves as a prime example for the Social Democrats, showcasing how anything is still achievable. Back then, the party began with a mere 14 percent support for chancellor candidate Scholz, prompting laughter across Germany. Ultimately, the SPD had the last laugh.
“The same individuals who counted us out back then are doing so again,” Scholz remarked today, laced with a hint of sarcasm. “Don’t heed their words. I understand how to run a campaign. Some will be taken aback,” stated the ever-confident Olaf Scholz.
The Miracle Mission: Optimism at the Willy Brandt House
The quest for a miracle has already commenced. Inside the Willy Brandt House, optimism has been deemed essential for the party’s revival. SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has already predicted in the Bundestag what CDU leader Friedrich Merz also dreads: the SPD is set to exceed 20 percent in the upcoming election. “We are a comeback party,” Mützenich declared during the chancellor’s confidence vote, responding to a scoffing Union in the Bundestag.
However, the SPD has yet to break free from a polling range of 14 to 17 percent, caught between being a minor junior partner and the opposition. SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil courageously emphasizes the party’s strengths, stating, “If there’s one thing we can do, it’s fight. We are a comeback party.”
In stark contrast to 2021, the current climate presents significant challenges. Back then, a chancellor stepped down after 16 years, and Scholz was seen as the ‘newcomer,’ despite his extensive ministerial background. Today, many view Olaf Scholz as the face of a tumultuous coalition and a struggling nation, with only one in five considering him a competent chancellor.
Initially, Scholz and the SPD were pleased that Merz would be the Union’s chancellor candidate. “That’s a stroke of luck,” they whispered at the Willy Brandt House. The expectation was that Merz’s impulsive nature might lead him to blunder. Yet, those hopes have yet to materialize.
“What do you actually want?” queries SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch to the German public. The SPD’s response features Scholz’s three key attributes: Reliability, Calmness, and Experience. “Who do you want as chancellor in these uncertain times?” Miersch aims to instill this pivotal question in the minds of voters.
During today’s SPD party congress in Berlin, 600 delegates are expected to respond with a resounding “We want Olaf.” The party leadership has unanimously nominated Scholz, moving past a brief daydream of a Pistorius candidacy in November. The delegates are set to acclaim Scholz without a secret ballot, seeking to avoid unfavorable comparisons to 2021, when Scholz entered the race with over 96 percent support.
So how do Scholz and his allies plan to win over the electorate? SPD strategists aim to establish a clear directional choice for the nation: Scholz or Merz? Welfare state or capitalism? Stability or foreign policy risks? These are the alternatives the SPD intends to highlight in their campaign.
Despite trailing in the polls, Scholz has already taken the initiative on the foreign policy front. He recently confronted the future US President Trump regarding his aggressive stance towards Greenland and Panama, positioning himself as a defender of international law. Scholz invoked the principle of border inviolability, a stance reminiscent of former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s opposition to the Iraq war.
On the domestic front, the SPD plans to campaign on secure pensions, an increased minimum wage, and improved education. “Less fluff – more program,” they provocatively stated online, hoping that once the campaign posters appear on the wintry streets, the public sentiment will shift.
If the anticipated turnaround does not occur, the SPD may face a challenging aftermath, including debates over personnel. Many members of the Bundestag are concerned about their mandates, and state associations are wary of losing influence.
General Secretary Miersch is counting on a dynamic speech from Olaf Scholz during his conversation with ARD capital studio today, viewing it as a crucial moment for initiating a shift in momentum. Scholz is leaving no stone unturned in his mission for a comeback, even delivering speeches in Cologne with a typically reserved Hamburg demeanor. “If you say that Scholz isn’t fit for the stage – I want a different outcome,” the chancellor mused at the New Year’s reception of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Cologne.
With only 43 days left, Chancellor Scholz must work diligently to ensure that the results diverge from the current polling predictions.
Linda Zervakis provides a behind-the-scenes look at federal politics weekly with the ARD correspondents, analyzing significant topics and shedding light on often-overlooked issues in the daily news.
For in-depth analyses, reports, and background information on the early federal election slated for February 2025, visit tagesschau.de.
This topic was reported on January 11, 2025, by tagesschau24 and Inforadio.