Boris Pistorius, Germany's popular defense minister, has withdrawn from the race to lead the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in an early general election, paving the way for the unpopular Chancellor Olaf Scholz to attempt a reelection bid. Despite internal calls for Pistorius to replace Scholz, the SPD leadership remains committed to Scholz, who faces criticism for his leadership and foreign policy decisions. The SPD is currently polling low, with the Christian Democrats and the far-right Alternative for Germany party leading in the polls.
A growing number of Social Democrats are calling for German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to replace Olaf Scholz as the SPD's candidate for chancellor in the upcoming snap elections, citing Pistorius's popularity and leadership qualities. SPD MP Joe Weingarten and former vice-chancellor Franz Müntefering have expressed support for Pistorius, while a recent poll shows 66% of voters favor him over Scholz. The SPD is scheduled to decide on its candidate at a conference on January 11, amid internal party discussions and dissent.
Germany will hold early elections on February 23 following the collapse of its center-left coalition government. The decision was announced by leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the latter being the largest opposition group.
Despite the collapse of his coalition government and low approval ratings, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has gained unexpected support within his Social Democratic Party (SPD) as they prepare for a snap election. Scholz's decision to end the coalition and dismiss Finance Minister Christian Lindner has been seen as a strong leadership move by SPD members, despite external criticism and calls for Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to replace him as the party's candidate. Scholz remains the SPD's choice for chancellor, leveraging his current position and the urgency of upcoming elections.
Germany's ruling coalition, comprising the SPD, Greens, and FDP, is on the verge of collapse due to internal disagreements over economic and budget policies. Tensions have escalated with Finance Minister Christian Lindner's recent economic proposals clashing with SPD and Green positions. The coalition faces a critical decision on the 2025 budget amidst a funding gap and constitutional constraints. If unresolved, the FDP might exit, potentially leading to a minority government or snap elections, though the latter is not yet the most likely scenario.
Three men were injured in a shooting in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, with one bystander sustaining minor injuries and two others taken to the hospital, one in critical condition. The Seattle Police Department is investigating the incident, and anyone with information is urged to contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line.
Berlin held a partial rerun of the 2021 German federal election due to mishaps in the original vote, resulting in slight gains for the CDU and AfD, and modest losses for the ruling coalition parties. The overall pecking order of major parties remained unchanged, with the SPD leading. The rerun, affecting around a fifth of Berlin constituencies, will not alter Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left coalition, but could impact the makeup of the Bundestag. The rerun served as a litmus test for the governing coalition's popularity, with concerns raised about the timing and logistical challenges of the rerun.
