Chancellor press conference - Scholz rules out an exit with Biden
US-President Joe Biden has been the most important partner for Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the international stage over the past two and a half years and a role model. However, Scholz, who is 81 years old, has no intention of following Biden's example and giving up a second presidential bid. "I will run for chancellor again," he stated clearly during his traditional summer press conference in Berlin.
He then spent nearly two hours trying to counter the bitter election losses and disastrous poll ratings of his party and himself. "We are all determined to enter the next federal election campaign and win," he said about himself and the SPD. He hinted at how he intended to achieve this: by defending pensions, fighting against minimum wages ("I am Mr. Minimum Wage"), and preventing Germany from being drawn into the Ukraine war.
Disappointing survey results as motivation
The SPD had already emphasized these issues during the European election in May, which yielded their worst result in a national election since almost 130 years. In the Bundestag election polls, the Social Democrats currently range between 14 and 16 percent, significantly behind the Union. And in Saxony and Thuringia, where state elections are scheduled for September 1, the SPD is only polling in the single digits.
"Disappointing survey results are a motivation to achieve better survey results," Scholz said about this and expressed confidence that he could reverse the trend as he had before the last Bundestag election in the fall of 2025.
Waning support within his own party
However, his own party no longer stands as firmly behind him as it did after the 2021 election victory. In the latest Forsa survey commissioned by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Germany (RND), only one-third of SPD members supported Scholz as a chancellor candidate. The same number favored Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who ranks at the top of all popularity lists.
When asked if someone was already working to replace him in the SPD, Scholz replied: "We will be far enough along in the next or following legislative period."
The press conference, organized by the Association of Capital City Journalists, also covered a range of other topics:
Positive remarks about Vice President Harris - No comment on Trump
Regarding US Vice President Kamala Harris, a potential successor to Biden as a presidential candidate, Scholz spoke positively. "I think it's very likely that Kamala Harris will win the election. But it's the American voters who decide," he said. Striking was his reluctance to comment on the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. He avoided answering questions about Trump - perhaps to avoid getting entangled with him.
Continued arms deliveries to Israel possible
The Russian attack war on Ukraine was hardly a topic. Instead, the focus was on the Middle East conflict. Despite the latest IGH ruling on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, Scholz continued to allow arms sales to Israel. "We have supplied weapons to Israel, and we have not made a decision to stop doing so." This would be decided on a case-by-case basis. The International Court of Justice recently ruled in a ruling that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and should be terminated as soon as possible.
Imminent deportations of serious criminals to Afghanistan
There was also discussion about deporting serious criminals to Afghanistan. Scholz announced that the German government would continue to deport criminals to Afghanistan, despite the security situation there. "We will continue to deport criminals to Afghanistan, and we will do so in a responsible and secure manner," he said. The German government has been under pressure to stop deportations to Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Scholz announced imminent decisions of the German government regarding deportations of serious criminals to Afghanistan. "We are working meticulously so that you can report soon about deportations that have actually been carried out there," he said. Scholz had announced as a consequence of the fatal knife attack in Mannheim that deportations of serious criminals and terrorist threats to Afghanistan and Syria would be made possible again. The German government is conducting negotiations with various third parties to enable deportations to Afghanistan.
Uncertainty in the Federal Budget
Uncertainties in the federal budget could once again confront Scholz and his traffic light coalition in the coming weeks. Although a painstakingly negotiated agreement had just been reached - however, the financing of eight billion euros in the next year is not yet completely secure.
The Chancellor expressed optimism that the problem was "solvable" and emphasized that the other traffic light partners shared this view. By mid-August, it should be clear whether the plans that he had worked out with Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) are constitutionally and economically sound. Then the draft must be submitted to the Bundestag.
Summer Break: A Sincere Wish?
The summer break was one of the last appointments for the Chancellor before his summer vacation. On Friday, there is still the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Berlin, and then he is also on vacation for two weeks with his wife Britta Ernst to a "friendly European country." "I am looking forward to the fact that there is peace," he recently said in an ARD interview about his vacation expectations. It could remain a sincere wish. On the coming Tuesday, the day four of Scholz and his wife's vacation, the Federal Constitutional Court will rule on the controversial new election law that the traffic light government passed last year. If it collapses, peace could be over.
- At the summer press conference, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized his intention to run for chancellor again, following disappointing survey results in the European election and Bundestag polls.
- Scholz highlighted his plans to defend pensions, fight against minimum wages, and prevent Germany from entering the Ukraine war as key strategies for the upcoming federal election.
- SDP members support Scholz as a chancellor candidate less than before, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius leading in popularity surveys within the party.
- Scholz dismissed rumors of someone working to replace him within the SPD, stating they would discuss potential changes during the next or following legislative period.
- Scholz spoke positively about US Vice President Kamala Harris, expressing confidence in her potential as a presidential candidate, while remaining cautious about commenting on Donald Trump.
- Germany continues to allow arms sales to Israel despite the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal.
- Scholz announced that the German government would proceed with deporting serious criminals to Afghanistan despite security concerns, emphasizing responsible and secure procedures.
- Uncertainties in the federal budget could challenge Scholz and the traffic light coalition in the coming weeks, as the financing of eight billion euros has not yet been fully secured.
- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been important partners for Scholz, with Biden being a role model and Harris receiving positive remarks from the Chancellor.
- Germany's federal government plans to resume deportations of serious criminals to Afghanistan, facing criticism and concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country.
