Despite the continued advance of the far right in Germany… Chancellor Scholz expects to win a second term
Despite recent electoral defeats in the states and criticism within the Social Democratic Party, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is sticking to his candidacy for the position of Chancellor in the general elections scheduled for next year.
“I strongly expect that I and the Social Democratic Party will receive such a strong mandate in 2025, to also lead the next government,” Scholz told the German Tagesspiegel newspaper.
“Governing isn’t easier, so we have to do it,” he added, explaining that his goal is to form a federal government led by the Social Democratic Party.
He was asked if the idea of spending another four years with the so-called “traffic light” government wouldn’t exhaust him, he answered, “I’m a runner and in good health, and that is essential here”.
The German Chancellor expressed his concern about many implausible proposals ahead of the upcoming elections, saying, “An honest and true vision of reality can quickly be lost in that case”.
Scholz stressed that the electoral battle must focus on character and honesty.
He continued, “It’s important for me and the Social Democratic Party to formulate practical and realistic ideas for how Germany can really move forward”.
In light of the SPD’s poor poll results, Scholz said he had long ago decided never to comment on any polls, explaining that he only looked at their results.
“It’s never a good idea to direct policy according to polls,” he said, “By the way, I’ve already won a few elections in my political career, even though the polls didn’t say so”.
Asked if he would allow Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to run for chancellor if he thought the party would have a better chance with him, the chancellor replied, “Boris Pistorius, like many others, also wants me to run for chancellor again… That’s exactly what I see”.
It’s worth noting, that the SPD achieved its worst electoral results to date in the regional elections in Thuringia and Saxony last Sunday, with 6.1% in the former and 7.3% in the latter, as the party’s result in Thuringia was its worst ever in a state election, in time the far right Afd party is gaining.
