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Olaf Scholz

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Olaf Scholz
Olaf Scholz began his tenure as the chancellor of Germany on 8 December 2021; a member of the Social Democratic Party, he previously served as vice-chancellor under his immediate predecessor, Angela Merkel, and as federal minister of finance from 2018 to 2021.
Born
14 Jun 1958
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Politician
An honour guard of the German armed forces Bundeswehr marches during a ceremony in honour of soldiers deployed to Mali, in front of the German Ministry of Defence in Berlin in 2024. Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to oversee a spending surge to boost German infrastructure and its armed forces. Photo: AFP
Germany

Opinion | Why Germany can’t afford not to spend billions on defence

For decades, Germans took Russia’s energy, China’s market and the US’ security guarantee for granted. They can’t be so complacent any more.

7
Ukraine war

Opinion | Appeasing Russia and forcing Ukraine into a peace deal will breed chaos

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Mainland China

Editorial | Germany’s ties with China sacrosanct, no matter the leaders

4
Germany

Police in Berlin break up protests in front of far-right AfD’s headquarters

Protest came as the AfD made historic gains in the German parliamentary election on Sunday.

People hold a protest near the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP
Germany

Germany’s conservatives win election as far-right makes historic gains

Friedrich Merz, set to become new chancellor, took aim at the United States after his victory in Germany’s election.

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Germany

Germans vote under shadow of far-right surge, Trump

The conservatives lead polls, with Friedrich Merz likely to be chancellor, while the far-right AfD could achieve a historic result.

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China-EU relations

Why a post-election shift in Germany’s China policy is no longer a sure bet

Front runner Friedrich Merz has long been expected to take a hawkish stance, but Trump and electoral maths may limit his room for manoeuvre.

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Friedrich Merz is widely expected to be the next chancellor. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

EU leaders to head to Kyiv, Macron to visit Trump to shore up Ukraine support

UK media reported that Britain and France were pushing ahead with discussions about a European force to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine.

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Ukraine war

Europe talks up more defence spending, but split over peacekeepers in Ukraine

European leaders at an emergency meeting in Paris were divided on how to respond to Donald Trump’s dramatic policy shift on Ukraine.

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Russia

Russians risk reprisals to visit Navalny grave on death anniversary

Russia has still not fully explained circumstances of opposition leader’s death, saying he died during a walk in yard of Arctic penal colony.

A person lays flowers at the grave of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny while marking the first anniversary of his death, at a cemetery in Moscow on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Germany

US interference in German election unacceptable, Scholz says

The Chancellor pushed back on US Vice-President J.D. Vance’s speech from the previous day, defending Germany’s taboo against the far-right.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) Photo: dpa
Germany

Scholz vs Merz: German chancellor candidates clash in election TV debate

Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz clashed over the far-right AfD ahead of Germany’s February 23 vote.

Germany

German chancellor hopeful urges quick coalition talks

Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz said he hoped a new coalition could be formed ‘by Easter’ despite an arduous coalition process.

Germany

German migrant bill backed by far-right fails in blow to election front runner

If the law had passed, it would have been the first in the country’s modern history to do so thanks to the support of the far-right.

Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz gives a press statement in Berlin, Germany, on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Germany

German Holocaust remembrance under fire from far-right, Elon Musk

At AfD rally, Musk said there’s ‘too much focus on past guilt and ‘children should not be guilty for the sins of their great grandparents’.

US tech billionaire and businessman Elon Musk is seen on a large screen as Alice Weidel, right, co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, addresses an election campaign rally in Halle, eastern Germany on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Germany

Musk promotes German far-right leader in wide-ranging online chat

X spaces event was Elon Musk’s latest foray into European politics, where he has become a loud advocate for far-right parties.

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Germany

Germany’s Scholz outraged over ‘indecent’ Moscow visit speculation

CDU lawmaker claimed that the chancellor would go to Moscow or meet with Vladimir Putin before Germany’s elections.

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Germany

Germany set for February 23 snap election after president dissolves parliament

Election campaigning has begun in earnest, with conservatives having a comfortable lead of more than 10 points over the SPD.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announces the dissolution of the German Bundestag. and set the date for early elections on February 23. Photo: dpa
Germany

Saudi suspect in German Christmas market attack held on multiple murder charges

Officials say Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a doctor, was angry about country’s permissive attitude to refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.

Germany

Germany’s Scholz mourns 5 killed, hundreds hurt in Christmas market attack

Police said the vehicle drove at least 400 metres across the venue, leaving a trail of bloody carnage.

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Germany

Germany heads for early elections after Scholz loses confidence vote

Olaf Scholz remains interim chancellor as Europe’s biggest economy on the path to elections on February 23.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz bites his finger, on the day of a confidence vote called by him to pave way for snap election. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Germany aims to align with Trump to end ‘merciless’ Ukraine war

Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles but stressed the country’s sovereignty should be guaranteed.

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A police officer inspects destroyed cars at the site of a Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
China-Germany relations

At G20, China’s Xi Jinping meets with leaders of Germany, France, Argentina

Germany’s Scholz stresses the importance of ‘a level playing field for companies on all sides’.

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G20

At G20, Xi and Albanese discuss improved China-Australia trade relations

Both leaders note progress, with the Australian prime minister saying: ‘Trade is flowing more freely to the benefit of both countries.’.

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Ukraine war

Germany’s Scholz urges Ukraine talks in first call with Putin since 2022

Zelensky warns that the conversation will open ‘a Pandora’s box’, making the Russian leader less isolated internationally.

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The call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first time the two have been in contact since December 2022. Photos: AFP
US presidential election 2024

Trump could send EU hurtling toward tariff war with US and China, Macron warns

The French president added that European countries risked being divided depending on their relative dependence on the US or Chinese market.

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a round table discussion in Paris on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
United States

Opinion | Trump’s rise signals the end of US global leadership

Expect greater isolationism in favour of bilateral, outcome-based deals with no more free rides for allies as Trump seeks capitulation, not cooperation.

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Germany

Germany heads to polls in February after Scholz’s coalition collapses

The decision follows the Free Democrats’ exit from the coalition, leaving Chancellor Olaf Scholz without a majority.

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