Olaf Scholz Nominated as SPD's Chancellor Candidate Amidst Challenges

Olaf Scholz has been unanimously nominated by the SPD's Federal Executive Committee as the party's candidate for Chancellor. This decision follows Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's withdrawal from consideration, despite his higher popularity. Scholz's candidacy awaits final confirmation at the party congress on January 11.

The nomination comes as the SPD faces low polling figures, with support ranging between 14 and 16 percent, while the CDU/CSU leads with over 30 percent. Scholz defends the party's delay in confirming his candidacy, emphasizing the need for careful consideration post the collapse of the traffic light coalition.

In the upcoming election, Scholz plans to highlight his Ukraine policy, positioning Germany as a major supporter of Ukraine. He rejects sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine to prevent further escalation. Despite criticism from the Ukrainian President and domestic opponents, Scholz remains steadfast in his diplomatic approach, maintaining responsibility and caution as central tenets of his campaign. As the election nears, Scholz faces the challenge of boosting SPD's standing and uniting support behind his leadership.