NOV 25,(V7N) - Olaf Scholz is set to be officially named the Social Democrats' (SPD) candidate for chancellor in Germany's upcoming snap elections in February, after his coalition government collapsed earlier this month. The elections, which were scheduled for later in the year, have been moved forward due to the breakdown of Scholz’s coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP).

Scholz, who is 66 years old, will lead the SPD's election campaign despite his party's poor standing in opinion polls—currently at just 15 percent. His position as the "face" of a failed government has drawn criticism, with the news magazine Der Spiegel labeling him the "weakest, most unsuitable candidate" for the SPD's chancellorship. The conservative opposition parties, including the CDU and CSU, currently lead the polls with 33 percent, while the far-right AfD is gaining ground at 18 percent.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Scholz remains confident in his ability to secure a second term, pointing to his surprise victory in the 2021 elections, where divisions within the conservative opposition helped him win. Scholz has also highlighted his leadership during multiple crises, and some within his party have expressed confidence in his experience as a stable leader.

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Scholz's approach to military support for Ukraine has been a key part of his political messaging. While Germany is one of Ukraine’s largest military supporters, Scholz has resisted sending long-range missiles to avoid escalating the conflict, a decision that is supported by 61 percent of Germans according to a recent poll.

The SPD is now rallying behind Scholz for the election, with party members urging unity. Matthias Miersch, the party's general secretary, acknowledged that recent internal debates have harmed the SPD’s image but emphasized the need for solidarity behind Scholz. Some senior party members had earlier favored Boris Pistorius as a candidate, but he ruled himself out, clearing the way for Scholz.

The opposition, meanwhile, has welcomed Scholz’s candidacy, seeing him as a more beatable opponent than Pistorius would have been. Mathias Middelberg, a lawmaker from the CDU, expressed relief, stating that Pistorius would have been more challenging for the conservatives.

Scholz’s candidacy will be formally confirmed at an SPD congress in January, ahead of the crucial election in February.