Chancellor question splits SPD

With a full three months to go until planned elections for the new Bundestag, it is still unclear who will lead the ruling Social Democrats in the campaign. No news came from the SPD leadership's re-election meeting in the evening. Several television interviews with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the end of the G20 summit did not provide any clarification. Scholz has repeatedly stressed the support of the party leadership for him and emphasized unity within the party. The chancellor is expected to return to Berlin this morning.

The Social Democrats are debating whether Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is popular in opinion polls, would do better as a candidate for prime minister than Scholz. The Prime Minister's Party's approval rating is at the bottom, at 15% to 16%, and its approval rating is only about half that of the opposition coalition. In the past few days, Scholz's supporters and politicians have spoken out, suggesting Pistorius instead. There have been repeated calls for a speedy solution to the problem.

The rise of Germany's current defense minister: Will Boris Pistorius replace his party colleagues as chancellor candidate? Image: trapezoid

There is no white smoke on the K issue after discussion by the party leadership

While Scholz was still in Rio, the party leadership discussed the campaign in Berlin. No news came out after that. According to Willie Brandt House, it was one of the regular meetings in preparation for the federal election and upcoming party conference. Scholz himself should not have been involved. The Chancellor spoke at the ARD about routine meetings in preparation for the election, not about speculation.

After the G20 meeting, Scholz accepted five television interviews after the press conference, most of which centered on the K issue within the party. “The Social Democrats and I want to win together,” the finance minister stressed in ARD and other interviews. Speaking on the ProSieben/Sat.1 news hour, Scholz stressed: “I can't complain about the support of the party leadership. They expressed it very clearly and answered the questions you just raised very clearly.” In a ZDFheute live broadcast, he explained “I also feel very palpable support. I don't feel alone,” said Dao.

Meanwhile, the chancellor is confident the candidate issue will not split the party. “You will once again feel that the SPD is closed like a shop,” Scholz said on Welt TV. Talking about DTV 2, he emphasized: “Don't get your hopes up, the SPD is united. “

Pistorius: Answers will soon become irrelevant

Defense Minister Pistorius told an event organized by Bayern media group in Passau on Monday that becoming prime minister was not part of his life plan, but declared: “In politics you should never exclude anything, no matter what it is What about.”

In a later interview with the Bavarian media group, Pistorius said “yes” when asked if he believed Scholz would continue to run as the next candidate for chancellor. But if things don't go down like this, is he ready? “Generally speaking, I don't answer hypothetical questions because the answer I give today may not be valid the day after tomorrow,” Pistorius said. Scholz said of his defense minister on world television: “I am absolutely convinced of his loyalty.”

Will saying “no” to Taurus become a campaign issue?

Ukraine has no Taurus missiles: Scholz blocks delivery.Image: trapezoid

In the interview, Scholz also mentioned two thematic areas where the SPD hopes to score points in the election. Scholz made it clear on RTL/ntv that on the one hand, security will be improved by strengthening the Bundeswehr, supporting Ukraine and internal security, but that social issues such as pensions, health and care, and infrastructure modernization should not be ignored. The Chancellor also stressed at ProSieben Sat.1 that the SPD will not engage in either-or choices here.

Scholz's refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles could also have an impact on the campaign. “This is not an element of the campaign, but it is a question that will be decided in the election whether to continue to proceed with caution,” Scholz said on ARD. He made a similar statement on World TV: “Of course it is What citizens will consider when they vote soon is whether it is a policy that is decisively supported, but also a cautious policy, which I advocate, and this is also related to the Social Democratic Party, which may or may not continue.” (Leo/Syrian Development Agency/ Political Department)

The war in Ukraine is now entering its third year. What has not changed in more than 1,000 days of war is Russia's threatening posture. During this time, many of the Kremlin's declared red lines have been crossed, but a threatening nuclear strike has so far not occurred.