Olaf Scholz, the chancellor who led his coalition into the wall

Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz have agreed on an early legislative election date, February 23, 2025, but the two main adversaries of German political life will meet on Wednesday in the Bundestag to begin their next duel for the chancellorship. The first, head of the CDU, is the favorite in the polls, but remains less popular than his party. And in the event of victory, the conservative leader will probably have to make room for the runner-up in his coalition.

The chancellor is at the head of a shadow government that he himself dissolved, but remains confident of victory. « I am firmly convinced that Olaf Scholz has done good for this country over the last three years. », dubbed him the influential leader of the SPD group in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich. The outcome of the fight will depend « confidence, competence, experience and emotions that the chancellor will be able to transmit to people », predicts this influential parliamentarian