A Social Democrat politician has become the first sitting SPD MP to call for the popular defence minister Boris Pistorius to run as the party’s candidate for chancellor in February’s snap elections instead of Olaf Scholz, in a sign of growing concern in the party over Scholz’s low approval ratings.
Joe Weingarten, an SPD MP, told the Financial Times he believed Pistorius was the better candidate. “He is very close to the people, radiates energy and doesn’t shy away from saying the necessary, clear words about what must now be done in and for Germany,” he said.
A poll for broadcasters RTL and n-tv published on Friday showed 66 per cent of voters thought Pistorius, who only joined the government in January 2023, should lead the SPD into the election, and only 18 per cent wanted Scholz.