Christmas Tree Installed Outside German Chancellery as Olaf Scholz Faces Political Challenges

A 40-year-old spruce from Brandenburg brings seasonal cheer to Berlin while Chancellor Scholz navigates party tensions and upcoming elections.

A large Christmas tree, often referred to as the 'Kanzler-Tanne,' has been placed outside the German Chancellery in Berlin, symbolizing the start of the holiday season.
The tree, a 40-year-old spruce from Brandenburg’s Fürstenwalde city forest, emphasizes regional and sustainable sourcing practices.
The understated decoration includes a simple string of lights and natural pinecones, accompanied by a children’s choir performance during its handover to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz faces internal party dissent over his candidacy for re-election, with many members favoring Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, currently one of Germany’s most popular politicians.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) struggles in polls ahead of the February Bundestag election, trailing behind the CDU/CSU and the far-right AfD.