Media reported on the SPD's preparations for defeat in the German elections

Many in Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) are preparing for the defeat of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in early elections, Handelsblatt reported on February 9.

"The election is over for the SPD," said Hermann Binkert, head of the INSA opinion research institute. Manfred Güllner, a sociologist at the Forsa Institute, is of the same opinion, the publication reported.

For Olaf Scholz, the televised debate with Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), is the last hope to change the course of the Bundestag elections, Handelsblatt wrote.

At the same time, SPD party representatives hope that Merz will make a mistake and allow himself to be provoked, thus giving Scholz the opportunity to "catch up." However, according to opinion polls, this is "unlikely."

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On February 5, media reported that SPD co-chairman Lars Klingbeil asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at least twice to refrain from running for the post again in the election. Another SPD co-chair, Saskia Esken, and the party's general secretary, Matthias Mirsch, share concerns that if Scholz is re-nominated, the party will not win early federal elections.

Earlier on February 2, a poll conducted by the Insa Institute for Public Opinion Research showed that in Germany 32% of citizens surveyed support the formation of a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and SPD in the Bundestag after the February 23, 2025 elections.

The Bild newspaper wrote on December 28 last year that Scholz is less likely to become the head of the country's government again. According to media reports, 14-16% of voters are ready to vote for Scholz, while, for example, for CDU leader Friedrich Merz - 31-33%.

On December 16, the Bundestag revoked confidence in Scholz's government. In a vote on the request, which the chancellor sent on December 11, less than a third of deputies voted in favor of it. Last December 28, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag and scheduled elections for February 23, 2025.