Pistorius video in full: “Scholz is the right candidate for chancellor”

After a public debate in the SPD, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius cleared the way for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to become the undisputed candidate for chancellor. His video message verbatim:

“Dear comrades, dear friends, dear friends. I have just informed our party and parliamentary group leadership that I am not available to run for the office of Federal Chancellor. This is my sovereign, my personal and very own decision. I I have emphasized it again and again in the last few weeks and I am saying it very clearly today.

With Olaf Scholz we have an excellent Chancellor. He led a coalition of three parties that was difficult to lead in normal times through perhaps the biggest crisis in recent decades. At a time when the world is increasingly dominated by crises, tensions and war, at a time when war is raging again in Europe, he ensured that Ukraine, with Germany, had the largest supporter in Europe. And he has ensured that Germany is once again a more reliable and stronger NATO ally. Olaf Scholz stands for reason and prudence, and that is particularly important in times like these, in times of global upheaval and populist, dangerous attacks on democracy worldwide. Olaf Scholz is a strong chancellor and he is the right candidate for chancellor.”

“And dear comrades, the discussions about the candidacy for chancellor in recent weeks have caused increasing uncertainty in the SPD and also irritation among voters. This is damaging my party, which I have been a member of for 48 years now. And me “I didn’t initiate this debate, I didn’t want it and I didn’t get involved in anything. We now have a shared responsibility to end this debate, because there’s a lot at stake.”

“You may remember that I said when I took office as Defense Minister in January last year: The office of Defense Minister is not a career springboard for me, as it may have been for some of my predecessors. I have… During this time I gained the trust of the troops and that is very important to me. And I still have a lot to do.

In the coming weeks I will fight with you for a strong social democracy, for our Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for a safe and democratic Germany. And of course I will continue to fight full steam for my Bundestag mandate and I will continue to campaign for our Bundeswehr and our common security. As Defense Minister, I am not yet finished with what I want to achieve, what needs to be achieved for our security.

I am looking forward to a second term. Dear comrades, we have initiated many things together as the SPD in this government. But we still have a lot to do to improve the lives of people in our country. That’s why I ask: Let’s fight together and unitedly for a second term in office for our Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Thank you very much – let’s go.”