Overview

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been confirmed as the SPD’s candidate for the February 2025 elections, despite internal debates favoring Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
• The SPD trails the CDU/CSU by 16–19 percentage points in polls, with Scholz’s approval rating at just 20 percent satisfaction among voters.
• Former Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Scholz’s handling of the coalition's collapse, calling his public remarks on Finance Minister Lindner’s dismissal undignified.
• Scholz plans to frame his campaign around economic policies, social welfare, and a cautious approach to the Ukraine conflict, including opposition to Taurus missile deliveries.
• Pistorius remains the country’s most popular politician, and many believe the SPD would perform better with him as their candidate, though he has opted to support Scholz.