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Scholz under pressure: SPD grumbles before the election campaign!
Juso boss Müller expresses doubts about Scholz's candidacy for chancellor. The SPD is discussing the election chances and course internally.
Scholz under pressure: SPD grumbles before the election campaign!
The political stage in Germany is shaking! New elections are coming up on February 23rd, and the question of whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will lead the SPD as the top candidate in the election campaign is causing heated debates. The Juso boss Marvin Müller from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has now expressed clear doubts: Scholz is “currently not set”. There is rumbling at the grassroots level, and the Jusos are calling for a clear social democratic course that goes beyond the traffic light coalition.
The unrest within the SPD is noticeable. Müller criticizes the fact that Scholz cannot rally his own party behind him: “If you want to convince the country, you first have to convince your own party.” While some comrades such as Bundestag member Johannes Arlt speak of a certain level of concern at the grassroots level, support for Scholz remains muted. The SPD parliamentary group leader Julian Barlen emphasizes that Scholz is the chancellor, but his words sound more like a compulsory exercise than passionate support. “Olaf Scholz has stature,” says Barlen, but that sounds more like lip service.
Scholz under pressure – alternatives in the discussion
The Jusos are dissatisfied with the current situation and reject possible alternatives such as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Müller doesn't want to name any names, but the dissatisfaction is clear. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig is also keeping a low profile and is demanding more of a clear stance from Scholz, while she herself has no ambitions to run for chancellor. “I am Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and I will remain so,” she explains, signaling that Berlin is not an issue for her at the moment.
The SPD is therefore facing a crucial phase: While the Jusos and other members of the grassroots are loudly calling for change, the leadership remains in a quandary. A clear course and a strong candidacy are required, but support for Scholz is anything but assured. The coming weeks will be crucial in clarifying whether Scholz can actually direct the SPD's fortunes in the election campaign or whether a rethink is necessary.