Olaf Scholz Faces Uphill Battle for Second Term as German Chancellor Amid Party Turmoil

 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will run for a second term in the upcoming snap elections set for February 23, following Defence Minister Boris Pistorius' decision not to challenge him. Pistorius, Germany's most popular politician and a potential rival within Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), fully endorsed Scholz on Thursday, offering some relief after weeks of speculation about the party's leadership.

However, Scholz's candidacy poses challenges for the SPD. With the party polling at a dismal 15%, far behind the opposition conservatives (33%) and the far-right AfD (18%), Scholz enters the race as Germany's most unpopular chancellor on record. Political analysts suggest his unpopularity and recent internal dissent may hinder his campaign against conservative rival Friedrich Merz, who, despite his own controversies, enjoys a lead in national polls.

Even within the SPD, many preferred Pistorius as a stronger contender, citing his widespread appeal since becoming defence minister two years ago. Scholz's leadership, marked by the collapse of his coalition government earlier this month, has added to skepticism about his ability to lead in challenging times.

The SPD leadership plans to formally nominate Scholz as their candidate next week, but the party's precarious position and the rising influence of the far-right underscore the difficulties ahead for Scholz as he attempts to steer the SPD toward electoral recovery.