Pressure Mounts on Olaf Scholz Amid SPD Leadership Scrutiny

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces growing pressure to step aside as SPD leader in favor of popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for the upcoming snap election. Despite SPD leadership's current support for Scholz, internal calls for change are increasing amid decreasing popularity and coalition instability.

Pressure is intensifying on Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz to relinquish his candidacy as leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) in favor of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. This move is aimed at strengthening the party's chances in the impending snap election.

The SPD's coalition collapsed earlier this month, prompting an expedited national election set for February 2025. As Scholz's popularity wanes, party insiders, notably from North Rhine-Westphalia, are vocalizing support for Pistorius, regarded as one of Germany's most admired politicians.

Despite Scholz's insistence on party solidarity, opinion polls reveal neither he nor Pistorius as frontrunners. Nonetheless, scholarly support is dwindling, attributing to his coalition's fractious end and controversial diplomatic moves.

(With inputs from agencies.)