German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains confident about the prospects of his Social Democratic Party (SPD) despite trailing in opinion polls ahead of the upcoming federal election. Polls place the SPD between 14% and 16%, while the conservative Union with Friedrich Merz as its candidate leads with over 30%, and the far-right AfD occupies second place with 17% to 19%. Scholz draws on his previous experiences of electoral success in Hamburg in 2011 and 2015 as a positive sign for the February election.
Scholz's optimism stems from his ability to turn around similar situations in the past, as evidenced in the 2021 Bundestag election where he led the SPD to victory from a comparable starting point. Recently nominated as the SPD's chancellor candidate, his official confirmation is anticipated at the party's convention on January 11.
The SPD is gearing up for a vigorous campaign, commencing with a 'Victory Conference' in Berlin, where Scholz is set to deliver his first campaign speech. This event marks the formal start of the SPD's election efforts, aiming to reinvigorate its base and challenge its rivals despite the current polling disadvantage.
The decision to back Scholz as the candidate followed speculation around the potential candidacy of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who eventually declined to run. Scholz's leadership and strategic positioning are seen as crucial for the SPD as it seeks to defy the odds and secure another electoral triumph, leveraging past successes and the resolve to rally support in the months leading up to the election.
