Olaf Scholz: This is how the new Chancellor ticks privately

How does Olaf Scholz (63) tick privately? The new Chancellor seems to have completely committed himself to politics. Apparently, he doesn’t need a distraction to calm down. He was anyway “a relaxed person who rests in himself”, he said in July during an appearance in the series of talks “Brigitte live”.

Passion for sport discovered later

The successor to Angela Merkel (67) does have a few hobbies. Scholz does sports. Not to switch off – sport is good for him and fun, as he explained in the “Brigitte” conversation. However, that has not always been the case. “I hated sport when I was at school, today I jog as often as possible”,. “I try to take time out two or three times a week for exercise – jogging, rowing or hiking. We also like to ride bikes.”

The politician also reveals how he got into sport as a late-career worker – through his wife Britta Ernst (60). When he was around 40 years old, she told him he had to do something and that he was “very grateful” to her for it, he revealed on “Brigitte live”.

Scholz, who was born in Osnabrück and grew up with two brothers in Hamburg, only discovered rowing when he was over 50,. “First row a few laps on the Alster early in the morning and then drive to the town hall for the Senate meeting, that was nice back then,” said Scholz. From 2011 to 2018 he was First Mayor of Hamburg.

Eat well, sleep late – if possible

Scholz also reveals on his website that the best way to relax is jogging and eating. In the “Bunte” conversation the new Chancellor described himself as a “connoisseur”: “I like to cook, preferably on the weekend. My wife and I take turns there. I get my Königsberger Klopse quite well. There are hardly any such things still in restaurants. ” In doing so, he “largely” follows the recipe by Tim Mälzer, “with small variations”.

In addition, Scholz revealed in the “Brigitte live” conversation that he was a late riser, but it had not happened for a long time that he could sleep in. On vacation and at the weekend it “works out”. His wife, on the other hand, likes to get up early. As a pensioner, he probably comes to breakfast “when she has lunch,” he joked.

That’s the woman by his side

Olaf Scholz owes a lot to his wife Britta Ernst, as he himself says. She was the woman who shaped him the most, he explained on “Brigitte live”: “I think that I would be a completely different person if I weren’t married to Britta Ernst.” He was “clearly” a better person because of her.

Scholz has been married to the Brandenburg Education Minister and current President of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs since 1998. In the mid-80s he got to know her in Hamburg, as Scholz writes on his homepage. His wife is a “great politician,” which is why the former Federal Minister of Finance was outraged during the election campaign about the question of whether she would continue to work if he became Chancellor.

“The love of my life”

: “The most important thing in life is love. And that’s why I am very happy that my wife and I have had a happy relationship for many decades. That is my priority every day.” Politics is a big part of his life, “but only a part”. “Bunte” he said: “Britta is the love of my life, unchanged for so long. Offices come and go, love remains.”

What also remains with Olaf Scholz, who studied law in Hamburg and has been admitted to the bar since 1985: his briefcase. “I’m very fond of this bag,” he said, “Bunte”. “The bag has been with me since I started as a young lawyer, that was almost 40 years ago. It’s practical – a lot goes in there. I also like the patina that has now built up. I like it from year to year better.”