The SPD has chosen to unite behind Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the upcoming election, sidelining Boris Pistorius, who expressed his support while distancing himself from past discussions. Despite Pistorius’s popularity as a candidate, with a significant portion of the public favoring him over Scholz, the party aims to focus on a cohesive campaign. Party leaders emphasize solidarity and reaffirm Pistorius’s role as Defense Minister, while reactions from political opponents highlight concerns about Scholz’s perceived vulnerabilities.
SPD’s Election Strategy: A Unified Front for Scholz
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has officially decided to rally behind Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the upcoming election campaign, sidelining Boris Pistorius. During an appearance on “tagesthemen,” Pistorius expressed his support for Scholz and distanced himself from any shared accountability regarding the prolonged discussions that preceded this decision.
After announcing that he would not pursue the chancellorship, Pistorius urged the SPD to consolidate its backing for Scholz, stating, “I believe he has very good chances of becoming Chancellor.” However, he emphasized that this success hinges on the party’s commitment to unity and a focused campaign against their political opponents. Georg Schwarte has criticized the SPD’s approach, suggesting that their election campaign could not have begun on a more unfavorable note.
Pistorius’ Popularity and Party Dynamics
Amid speculation regarding his candidacy, Boris Pistorius had maintained a neutral stance until recently. He clarified his loyalty to Scholz: “I have been completely loyal at all times and have always stated that I stand by the Chancellor.” By asserting his decision to end the internal debate, he made it clear that while he is not withdrawing, he also does not wish to be considered a candidate.
Recent polling data from the “ARD-DeutschlandTrend” suggests that voters have a preference for Pistorius, with 60 percent believing he would make a strong chancellor candidate, compared to only 21 percent for Scholz. Despite this, only 14 percent indicated they would support the SPD in a federal election if held this Sunday.
As the SPD prepares to nominate Scholz officially, party chairman Lars Klingbeil stated, “We want to go into the next electoral contest with Olaf Scholz.” The announcement is expected to clarify the party’s direction moving forward.
In response to Pistorius’ decision, SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken praised his choice as a demonstration of solidarity with both the party and Scholz. She highlighted Pistorius’ capabilities as an outstanding Defense Minister, reaffirming the party’s intention to keep him in that role in the next government.
Political reactions to this development have been swift. FDP leader Christian Lindner expressed his acceptance of Scholz as the SPD candidate, noting that voters understand what to expect from him, particularly concerning economic policies. Meanwhile, Union faction manager Thorsten Frei commented that although Scholz may have emerged from the internal struggles as a winner, he is perceived as “catastrophically damaged,” suggesting a lack of confidence in his ability to secure an election victory.