Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Saturday, January 11, 2025, formally confirmed Chancellor Olaf Scholz as its candidate for the upcoming parliamentary election, handing him an overwhelming endorsement at a special party convention in Berlin. Scholz, who has led Europe's biggest economy since 2021, framed the February 23 election as a critical "fork in the road" for Germany. He warned delegates that if voters "take the wrong turn," they would wake up in a country that has abandoned its commitment to stability and democracy. Scholz cited the war in Ukraine, the rise of right-wing populists across Europe, and former U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed challenges to international norms, such as his comments on purchasing Greenland, as signals that "our democratic institutions are under threat. "Germany needs a steady hand," Scholz told delegates. "We're in a 'damn serious' global situation, and we must remain calm, clear-headed, and experienced in our decision-making." This time, the party leadership decided against a secret ballot, citing Scholz's status as the incumbent rather than a challenger. Instead, delegates signaled their near-unanimous approval by a show of hands, with only a handful voting against him. In 2021, Scholz had won 96.2% support via a secret online vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scholz used the convention to position the SPD as the party for "normal people," saying they are "the true backbone of our society, not the richest few." He pledged to focus on bread-and-butter issues like infrastructure, wages, and economic stability, pointing to the party's newly approved 63-page platform, "More for You. Better for Germany." Despite the show of unity, the SPD is polling significantly behind the conservative Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union alliance (CDU/CSU), whose candidate Friedrich Merz has capitalized on discontent over the collapse of Scholz's three-way coalition government with the Greens and Free Democrats. Some within the SPD had openly questioned whether Defense Minister Boris Pistorius�a more popular figure in national polls�should replace Scholz as the party's top contender. Nevertheless, Scholz projected confidence in his acceptance speech, vowing to "win this election" and defend Germany's long-standing commitment to peace, stability, and international law. He reaffirmed Germany's continued support for Ukraine, including military assistance, and flatly rejected claims from Washington that borders could be redrawn to serve U.S. strategic interests. The SPD's official campaign launch is expected in the coming days, as party leaders aim to turn Saturday's endorsement into momentum for the winter election. Polls show the center-right CDU/CSU leading, with the SPD and Greens vying for second place. (Photo by Michael Kuenne/PRESSCOV/Sipa USA)