Olaf Scholz has already announced his candidacy. Last Minute GERMANY, France, Russia, Greece headlines and events

BERLIN –

As the tripartite coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens in Germany has completed its first year of existence, Prime Minister Olaf Scholz has announced that he wants to be a candidate for the second time in the elections. The next elections to the Bundestag will take place in 2025.

“Of course I am a candidate. I want the governing coalition to be in a good position to be able to take office again,” Scholz said in a statement on the matter. Olaf Scholz, who took the oath on December 8, 2021, made a positive balance by evaluating his first year in government.

Saying that the government is stable despite many difficulties such as the war in Russia, the energy crisis and inflation, the 64-year-old politician announced that he aims to achieve a majority in the 2025 elections, maintaining this policy for the next 3 years. .

The Ukrainian War marked the first year of Scholz’s life.

Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who came to power with the promise of radical change after 16 years of Angela Merkel’s rule, aims to further advance Germany, digitization, improve people’s living conditions, protect their standard of living, create a more modern and free society and intensify the fight against protection climate. declared their main goal.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel and new chancellor Olaf Scholz

However, over the past year, as the world has faced major political and economic upheavals and crises following the war unleashed by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the German government has also suffered its share. While the war determined the operation of the coalition government in the first year, the energy crisis, rising prices and rising inflation in the shadow of this took their toll on the first 12 months. The €200 billion aid package, which was implemented to reduce the burden on extremely low and middle income people and small and medium-sized enterprises, was recorded as a positive score for Germany’s 9th chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

The introduction of the “Civil Allowance”, which includes an increase in the minimum hourly wage to 12 euros, an increase in child and housing allowances, an increase in payments from the new year instead of helping the long-term unemployed and people living on social assistance, was interpreted as the achievements of Olaf Scholz.

The Scholz government also signed a €100 billion “Special Welfare Fund” to ensure that the German army has modern weapons and strength to defend both the country and its allies.

German PM speaks out against Turkey over Aegean issue

Olaf Scholz pursued a policy that drew criticism in the international arena on two issues. Unlike Angela Merkel, who had to deal with many international crises during her reign and who was known for her prudent policies, especially in terms of rapprochement with France, relations between Berlin and Paris entered a crisis in the first year of Scholz’s rule.

Scholz and French President Macron, who were at odds over how to deal with the European energy crisis and overcoming the inadequacy of European defense, could not agree on how to approach China.

German Chancellor Scholz and President Erdogan

Olaf Scholz’s policy towards Turkey also provoked a reaction, especially in Ankara. Scholz, who visited Turkey in March, showed a common position with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in condemning Russian aggression, and in October last year, during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis during his visit to Athens, he gave great support to the Greek theses. against Turkey.

The German prime minister said Turkish government officials “sent military threats” to Greece. This attitude of Scholz caused a reaction in Ankara. Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, in his speech at the congress of European social democratic parties held in Berlin, said that the doors of the European Union (EU) must be opened to new members and reforms are needed, and did not mention Turkey, which is in the process of becoming a member of the European Union. for decades.

After speaking with Erdogan in Ankara, Scholz announced that they would initiate high-level dialogue formats between Turkey and the EU and stated that negotiations on the Customs Union would continue.

Can Scholz escape Merkel’s shadow?

Meanwhile, opinion polls conducted during Olaf Scholz’s first year as prime minister are now being compared to the Merkel era. Indeed, 43 percent of respondents in a recent poll think Merkel is a better chancellor than SPD’s Olaf Scholz. The proportion of those who think Olaf Scholz is better is 41 percent.

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