Scholz, moderation in pursuit of a breakthrough
Olaf Scholz’s formal nomination as the Social Democratic candidate for a renewed term launched Germany into a campaign that reflects a nation wrestling with recession, a conservative bid to restart growth, and a raucous environment around an increasingly polarizing party congress. With general elections six weeks away, Scholz and his rival from the conservative bloc, Friedrich Merz, outlined their visions in orderly formats, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) trusted its leader Alice Weidel to steer a turbulent party congress, which began after hours of disruption from anti-fascist protests surrounding the event.
Scholz presented a message centered on resisting radicalism and choosing proven governance. He framed his candidacy around experience and steady stewardship, arguing that today’s Germany needs a steady hand to navigate a world marked by war in Europe, shifting alliances, and pressures on social programs. Supporters noted that Scholz remains the preferred option for political continuity, even as polling shows him trailing his strongest competitors. A regional party leader insisted that stability at the helm is best for the country, underscoring the SPD’s strategy to project calm in uncertain times. The party’s leadership in Europe signaled solidarity with fellow governments, including partners in southern Europe, while Scholz reminded voters that decisive leadership is essential to defend shared democratic values at a time of global tension.
Scholz’s victory speech at the congress highlighted his reliance on experience and steady governance as the counterweight to more disruptive currents. He sought to portray himself as the centrist choice in a field increasingly defined by reformist and protective impulses, arguing that the country benefits from a measured approach to social protections and fiscal policy. International observers noted that Scholz’s stance contrasts with rising populism elsewhere and positions him as a stabilizing force on the European stage.
In a broader international context, Scholz’s leadership was framed as a bulwark against abrupt shifts in global power and economic policy. The SPD chief spoke to a sense of responsibility that extends beyond national borders, emphasizing the need to balance economic resilience with social cohesion. The party’s top figures, speaking through video messages to allied governments, reinforced a message of continuity and pragmatic governance. Realists within the party cautioned against overstatement, urging focus on achievable results and a strategy to neutralize polarization rather than feed it.
At the congress, the party’s senior ranks conveyed a pragmatic optimism about recovering support through steady examinations of policy and administration. The sentiment among delegates echoed a careful optimism: not a miracle, but the best possible path to restore confidence and deliver solid outcomes for ordinary citizens. The event underscored Scholz’s role as a dean of governance, someone seen as capable of steering a coalition through challenging times while keeping core social commitments intact.
Merz, banner of economic revival
The German right’s shift toward a more moderate but reform-driven program has left conservatives on the defensive. Friedrich Merz, once a rival to Angela Merkel within the CDU, has repeatedly warned that there will be no cooperation with radical-right factions. From Hamburg, his party convened to set a strategy aimed at reviving a nation viewed by many as strained by recession and costly social programs. Merz asserted that his shared project with the CSU would prioritize fiscal relief for business and tighter controls on social subsidies, while advocating a tougher stance on immigration as part of a broader security and economic agenda.
Central to Merz’s plan is a pitch to break the economic stagnation he argues is caused by what he calls mismanagement within Scholz’s government. He has pointed to perceived failures by the current economics team as the primary reason for the downturn, urging voters to trust his leadership as a change agent capable of restoring momentum and returning Germany to pre-crisis growth levels. In his core narrative, the CDU/CSU would push for tax relief for firms and a reduction in subsidies for asylum seekers, aligning with a policy line that emphasizes national sovereignty and controlled migration as prerequisites for sustainable prosperity.
Party insiders say Merz’s strengths lie in the credibility of his economic verdicts and his willingness to take bold, sometimes unpopular steps to reenergize the economy. He has sought to paint Scholz as the caretaker of a status quo that has failed to deliver, presenting himself as the architect of a more dynamic and competitive Germany. International commentary described Merz as a leader who would confront inflationary pressures and refocus public investment on productivity-enhancing sectors, while also reassuring markets that the reforms would be fiscally responsible.
On the migration front, Merz’s team argued for a more stringent approach, including policies that would curb asylum subsidies and streamline deportations when needed. The aim, they said, is to safeguard the social contract while ensuring that political legitimacy and public trust do not erode under demographic and economic stress.
Weidel, confrontation resistant to deceit
Meanwhile, the AfD’s congress in a provincial city became a focal point of tension. Weidel’s leadership was tested amid thousands of protesters and a strong showing by anti-fascist groups who voiced their opposition in the streets. See-through images of police confrontations and riot-control measures circulated early in the morning as supporters and opponents clashed outside the venue. Weidel used the moment to frame the party as a steadfast defender of democratic rights against what she described as a hostile establishment, presenting herself as a victim of a political climate she argued was rigged against the voices of ordinary Germans.
Weidel had made headlines in the days leading up to the congress with provocative remarks on social media that drew international attention. Her rhetoric, combined with the confrontational atmosphere around the event, put the AfD back at the center of Germany’s political debate, reinforcing the image of a party that embraces disruption as a means to gain leverage. The march of events culminated in a cliff-edge moment as Weidel was formally confirmed as the candidate by acclamation, pledging to reverse aspects of the energy and climate program if she were ever to gain power. She declared support for restarting energy flows from Russia via the Baltic region and promised to roll back wind projects she characterizes as disruptive to energy security.
The day underscored a repeating pattern in the AfD’s campaigns: demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, a ritualized sequence of bloc politics and media attention, and a campaign that leans heavily on mobilizing a base that distrusts the political center. As the party consolidated its leadership, its public messaging remained combative, even as it projected a disciplined, if contentious, campaign conduct. The dynamic around Weidel highlighted a broader tension within German politics between a push for robust immigration controls and a commitment to democratic norms in a country still balancing its humanitarian and security obligations.
As spring approaches and the election looms, observers expect a campaign defined by contrasts: Scholz’s cautious, experience-driven governance against Merz’s reformist timetable and Weidel’s confrontational, anti-establishment posture. The country watches closely how each bloc plans to translate rhetoric into policy while coping with economic pressures and the challenges of migration, energy security, and international alignment. The political stage remains crowded, and the outcome will shape the direction of Germany well beyond the ballot box. (Reuters)