Media reported on Scholz's increased criticism of Trump's expansionist rhetoric
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is intensifying his criticism of the expansionist rhetoric of US President-elect Donald Trump. This was reported by Bloomberg news agency on January 11.
At a party convention in Berlin, German Chancellor Scholz spoke of uncertain times in relations with Washington and also pointed to the rise of the far right in neighboring Austria.
"These are times when people dream of chopping everything with a chainsaw - democracy, the welfare state, equal rights. Times when certain forces in America are also working very deliberately to destroy our democratic institutions in the West," he said.
The agency noted that in this way the chancellor is trying to gain support as his party fails ahead of next month's federal elections.
In turn, advisers to his opponent, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, are anxiously awaiting Trump's inauguration, believing that this event will be a turning point, could change the electoral balance and give Scholz the image of a defender of democracy.
Earlier, on January 11, Scholz was officially approved as a candidate for Chancellor of Germany from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in early parliamentary elections. The SPD leadership unanimously nominated incumbent German Chancellor Scholz as its candidate for the election on November 25, 2024.
German newspaper Bild noted on December 28 that Scholz is less likely to become the country's head of government again. According to media reports, 14-16% of voters are ready to vote for Scholz, while, for example, for the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz - 31-33%.
On December 16, the Bundestag revoked confidence in Scholz's government. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier then endorsed February 23, 2025 as a possible date for early parliamentary elections.
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