Scholz of Germany Discloses His Planned Departure from Politics
The German chancellor stated that at this moment, “plan A is to be re-elected.” Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declared that he plans to step back from politics once his term concludes. In a recent appearance on the Jung & Naiv video podcast, he emphasized that his current focus is entirely on his role, despite a federal election scheduled for next week.
Polls show that his party, the Social Democrats, is lagging behind the Christian Democratic Union and the right-wing Alternative for Germany ahead of the February 23 vote. Additionally, Scholz has faced criticism from members within his own government for his cautious approach to military support for Ukraine.
“My Plan A is to be re-elected as chancellor,” Scholz stated. When asked if he believed this would be his final political role, he affirmed, “Yes, I think that will stop later. From my point of view, it’s not like something else is yet to come.”
The chancellor's coalition government experienced a collapse in November 2024, leading to the need for a new parliamentary election. Reports indicated internal discussions within the SPD about potentially replacing Scholz with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who ultimately declined, asserting that Scholz was “the right candidate for chancellor.”
In his nomination speech, Scholz highlighted the importance of peace, economic recovery, and addressing the cost-of-living crisis as his main priorities. He has held the chancellorship since 2021 and has previously served as finance minister and vice chancellor.
Reflecting on his lengthy public service, he remarked, “I had the honor to do something for my country for many years, and I hope I can do that for a long time. But after that, the time as a normal citizen has come again.”
The prospect of securing another term appears daunting. The latest ARD Deutschlandtrend poll indicates that the conservative CDU, along with its Bavarian affiliate, the CSU, is gaining significant traction under CDU leader Friedrich Merz. The SPD is expected to lose considerable support, while the AfD is anticipated to double its vote share.
Scholz also discussed the challenges of leadership, asserting that while it can be demanding, he does not find it isolating. “I don’t think it’s that lonely. I have a lot of people I can talk to. But you should know, if you want to hold such an office, that it really comes down to you and that you make the decisions yourself,” he explained.
As a trained lawyer, Scholz made it clear that he does not plan to return to legal practice. “I’m still a lawyer, as far as the application is concerned, but it’s also exciting what I’ve been doing since 1998,” he stated, reinforcing his intention for his political career to conclude with his chancellorship.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Polls show that his party, the Social Democrats, is lagging behind the Christian Democratic Union and the right-wing Alternative for Germany ahead of the February 23 vote. Additionally, Scholz has faced criticism from members within his own government for his cautious approach to military support for Ukraine.
“My Plan A is to be re-elected as chancellor,” Scholz stated. When asked if he believed this would be his final political role, he affirmed, “Yes, I think that will stop later. From my point of view, it’s not like something else is yet to come.”
The chancellor's coalition government experienced a collapse in November 2024, leading to the need for a new parliamentary election. Reports indicated internal discussions within the SPD about potentially replacing Scholz with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who ultimately declined, asserting that Scholz was “the right candidate for chancellor.”
In his nomination speech, Scholz highlighted the importance of peace, economic recovery, and addressing the cost-of-living crisis as his main priorities. He has held the chancellorship since 2021 and has previously served as finance minister and vice chancellor.
Reflecting on his lengthy public service, he remarked, “I had the honor to do something for my country for many years, and I hope I can do that for a long time. But after that, the time as a normal citizen has come again.”
The prospect of securing another term appears daunting. The latest ARD Deutschlandtrend poll indicates that the conservative CDU, along with its Bavarian affiliate, the CSU, is gaining significant traction under CDU leader Friedrich Merz. The SPD is expected to lose considerable support, while the AfD is anticipated to double its vote share.
Scholz also discussed the challenges of leadership, asserting that while it can be demanding, he does not find it isolating. “I don’t think it’s that lonely. I have a lot of people I can talk to. But you should know, if you want to hold such an office, that it really comes down to you and that you make the decisions yourself,” he explained.
As a trained lawyer, Scholz made it clear that he does not plan to return to legal practice. “I’m still a lawyer, as far as the application is concerned, but it’s also exciting what I’ve been doing since 1998,” he stated, reinforcing his intention for his political career to conclude with his chancellorship.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
