Germany’s Scholz Receives Backing Amidst SPD Leadership Debate Ahead ofSnap Election

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has received a show of support from within his Social Democratic Party (SPD) following calls for a change in leadership ahead of a snap election, Bloomberg reports.

Several party officials had questioned Scholz’s suitability as the top candidate due to his low approval ratings.

SPD head Lars Klingbeil publicly endorsed Scholz on Sunday, urging the party to swiftly resolve the internal debate. This followed calls from several lawmakers who argued that a quick decision in favor of Scholz would prevent a potentially damaging internal power struggle.

Bernd Westphal, the SPD parliamentary group’s economic policy spokesman, echoed this sentiment on Sunday, calling for a resolution before the year’s end to formally nominate Scholz. His statement followed similar calls from lawmakers Holger Mann and Axel Schaefer.

The SPD, currently polling at around 16% and trailing both the Christian Democrats and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), can ill-afford internal divisions. However, some within the party reportedly favor Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, currently enjoying higher approval ratings, as a more viable candidate.

Despite the ongoing debate, Scholz says he remains committed to leading the SPD’s campaign. The INSA poll released Saturday placed the Greens at 10% support.