Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to show more leadership in the traffic light coalition. He announced this shortly before the state elections in Brandenburg. “It is not easy to have a coalition – and it will not get any easier,” said Scholz in the evening at a public meeting in Niedergörsdorf. “But the time will come – and it has come – when we can find clear words.”
One citizen said during the question and answer session that he thought Scholz was the right chancellor, but wanted a stronger one – from an external perspective. Scholz should not “let himself be fooled by the Punch and Judy show”. The chancellor replied: “That’s why I promise you what you want.”
Scholz believes SPD victory in next election is possible
Scholz says he believes the traffic light coalition will last until next year’s federal election. “Will the government last until the end of the legislative period? I think so – yes.” At the same time, he was optimistic that his party could become the strongest force, as it did in the 2021 election. “That’s what I’m committed to,” he said. “I’m not as anxious about that as others.”
In polls, the SPD is currently at around 15 percent at the federal level. Scholz is under pressure because his traffic light government is partly divided and Brandenburg is facing a state election in which, according to polls, it is unclear whether the SPD will be able to assert itself as the strongest force. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has announced that he will not be available to form a new government if the AfD replaces the Social Democrats as the strongest force.
Schneider relies on Scholz as candidate for chancellor
The Federal Government’s Commissioner for Eastern Europe, Carsten Schneider, is relying on Scholz as the SPD’s candidate for chancellor, regardless of the outcome of the state elections. “With him we have the best chances,” the SPD politician told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”. “Olaf Scholz acts prudently with many years of government experience, Friedrich Merz is the opposite,” he added, referring to the Union’s candidate for chancellor.
When asked how Scholz intends to turn the mood against him in the East, Schneider said: “I am confident that this can be achieved. It is the coalition that does not have good approval ratings because of the public quarrels.” However, the Chancellor’s record is impressive and this will be clearly shown in the election campaign in East Germany.
SPD member of the Bundestag: “With every failure the pressure increases”
Isabel Cademartori, the SPD parliamentary group’s spokesperson for transport policy, still considers the question of Scholz’s candidacy for chancellor to be open. There is a lot to suggest that he will. “But the party will make the final decision next year,” Cademartori told the “Mannheimer Morgen”. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is also “certainly one of those who would be trusted to take on such a task.”
With regard to the state elections on Sunday, the Bundestag member said: “With every failure, the pressure on the Chancellor increases.” However, she could not imagine that Scholz would ask the Bundestag for a vote of confidence or resign as Chancellor if the SPD were to lose in Brandenburg.
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