Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD seeks to assert stronger leadership within the traffic light coalition, aiming for stability until the next federal election. He remains optimistic about the SPD's prospects, hoping to replicate their success from the 2021 election.
However, the upcoming state election in Brandenburg poses significant challenges, with the AfD currently leading in polls. State Premier Dietmar Woidke has stated he will not form a government if the AfD surpasses the SPD.
Despite potential setbacks, Carsten Schneider, the federal government's commissioner for the East, supports Scholz as the SPD’s chancellor candidate, viewing him as a more favorable option compared to the CDU/CSU's Friedrich Merz. Isabel Cademartori, the SPD's transport policy spokeswoman, believes the decision on Scholz’s candidacy remains open, noting that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius could also be a viable candidate.
She doubts that Scholz would call for a vote of confidence or resign if the SPD loses in Brandenburg. The political landscape in Brandenburg reflects a shift to the right, with the AfD gaining traction amid declining trust in established parties.
This shift has significant implications for national politics, stressing the need for strategic responses from mainstream parties to address structural changes and counteract the rise of the AfD.
