Scholz's unwavering belief in his re-election
At the traditional summer press conference, Chancellor Olaf Scholz had an early „wake-up call“, being asked if he still saw himself as the right SPD candidate for the next Bundestag election or if, given the poll numbers, he might follow the example of US President Joe Biden and step aside.
Scholz gave thanks for the „extremely nice and friendly question“, which elicited some initial laughter, and then clarified: „I will run as Chancellor, to become Chancellor again.“
The image of the traffic light coalition he leads seems almost irreparably damaged. The SPD is far below its 2021 election results in the polls. His own approval ratings frequently lag behind those of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Yet Scholz's belief in his re-election remains unwavering: „My conviction is that when the next Bundestag elections come, we will have managed to turn things around“, he said. He views the poor polling results as merely „an incentive“, stating that convincing people requires action and clarity.
Before starting a three-week summer vacation, the Chancellor used the press conference to portray himself as a decisive leader overcoming the stagnation of the Merkel era. It has been important, he said, to move away from mere rhetoric of recent years, and focus on reducing bureaucracy and accelerating planning. On refugee policy, he decided that complacency must end.
Scholz referred to his support for the minimum wage. And regarding his role in the recent budget negotiations, his approach could be summed up by the saying: if you seek leadership from him, you will get it.
Diplomatic
Scholz is repeatedly asked about the US election campaign, on which he wisely refrains from commenting, and about the diplomatically sensitive situation in the Middle East, where he reiterates his known positions. Domestically, the budget, basic income, and refugee policy take precedence. The EU, which is currently entering a new phase, was only briefly mentioned in the context of banning combustion engines. The war in Ukraine and the upcoming regional elections in eastern Germany, which could bring another setback for the Social Democrats, were not given significant attention.
After the summer break, there will be just over a year until the next Bundestag election. Scholz believes that the SPD is fully behind his policies. As for bringing on a successor, he is confident that the party will be ready by the end of the next or the following legislative term, he said.
Is there a major project from the current coalition on the horizon? The Chancellor remains vague. He talked about a business location that must remain technologically advanced and attract more businesses. There will also be some reduction in bureaucracy. Additionally, there are plans for further developments in housing policy. It doesn’t sound like a major breakthrough for the coalition. The fact that the budget draft still has a double-digit billion-euro gap doesn’t worry the former finance minister. These issues are solvable, he asserts. He also finds it „remarkable“ that the three coalition parties have already made such progress with the budget.
Towards the end of the questioning, when social media cames up, the man from Hamburg showed his true colors. One must learn to handle this kind of media, he said. And when people talk nonsense, one must also respond with, „that’s rubbish.“
