Olaf Scholz: Why the Chancellor is still a force to be reckoned with

Opinion

Olaf Scholz can be seen in three versions these days. Self-critical, statesmanlike, even a little combative. For now, the Chancellor has given up the reserved role of moderator in the traffic light theater. In his coalition, people are still dishing things out against each other. But Scholz seems to have realized that he cannot always wait until every ideological dispute in his coalition has been resolved and the smoke has cleared. The Chancellor is now moving forward more offensively and wants to fight his way back. He has to too. His chancellorship is in jeopardy.

Shortly before the 2021 federal election, an interesting survey was conducted. The question was: Who would you most likely buy a used car from? Scholz enjoyed the greatest trust in this regard among the three candidates for the Chancellery. In the meantime it would probably remain sitting on a large part of its bodies. Scholz is more unpopular than all the chancellors before him who were then measured; very few are satisfied with his work. The Chancellor has lost a lot of trust in the past two years.

Scholz is trying to win it back. But can he really still be a force to be reckoned with?

Scholz is self-critical – and combative

After the turn of the year, he initially struck a new tone for him. In a detailed conversation with “Zeit” he hinted at self-criticism. If you wanted, you could even read from his answers: I understand, things can’t go on like this.

A little later, at the SPD European Party Conference, he portrayed himself as a far-sighted world politician who will not let military aid for Ukraine stop – and, if necessary, personally collects it from his European partners, who, in his eyes, are doing far too little. Once decried as a procrastinator and hesitant, Scholz is now the leader.

Most recently he worked on the “Mimosa” Friedrich Merz in a combative speech in the Bundestag. Although the sharp words were directed at the opposition, the appearance was aimed at his SPD faction. She had always wanted this chancellor and had demanded him more and more clearly.

Olaf Scholz would be well advised to keep his new sound

Scholz has indicated a change in style that he can no longer go back on without appearing to be a turncoat. He would be wise to stick with his new sound. Self-critical, statesmanlike, combative: voters are likely to be more receptive than ever to the triad. In this still young year, but many people are concerned about the course of it – including many social democrats. If things go badly, there is a risk of a series of defeats for the Chancellor’s party. And with every defeat, Scholz’s authority could suffer.

However, the Chancellor could also benefit from the looming horror scenarios. He is likely to take the lead in the fight against the impending shift to the right in the local and state elections, which is likely to mobilize his comrades above all. Through his resolute support for Ukraine and his announcements to his EU partners, he acts as a pacesetter for the international community. And the impending election of Donald Trump as US President could also give his chancellorship new impetus. His party is already working on a narrative with Scholz as a reliable guarantor against the Putins and Trumps of this world.

Scholz may be looking bad right now. But nothing is lost yet. Provided that his new sound doesn’t get lost straight away – in the coalition conflict or in the high density of crises.