In the dynamic German political panorama, the chancellor Olaf Scholz It is located at a decisive crossroads. After assuming leadership in 2021 at the head of a “traffic light” coalition composed of social democrats (SPD), green and liberals (FDP), its government has faced significant challenges that have tested their management capacity and leadership.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 destabilized the European economy, deeply affecting Germany. Russian gas dependence and subsequent energy crises led to increasing inflation and economic stagnation. The internal discrepancies in the coalition, especially around economic and energy policies, culminated in November 2024 with the cessation of the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindnerleader of the FDP, which caused the rupture of the government alliance.
Given this situation, Scholz chose to undergo a motion of confidence in December 2024, which he lost, racing the way for anticipated elections scheduled for February 23, 2025. In this context, its main opponent, Friedrich Merzleader of the CDU, has gained ground in the polls, capitalizing the criticisms of the economic and migratory management of the current government.
As Germany prepares for these elections, we analyze the political program of Olaf Scholz, we study its proposals and strategies to address the present and future challenges of the nation, and we offer a detailed and contextualized vision of its plans to guide Germany in an era of uncertainty and change.
Scholz bets on a Keynesian economy based on investment and fiscal justice
With the aim of dealing with the economic stagnation and the industrial objectives of Germany, Olaf Scholz has delineated a Keynesian economic strategy that emphasizes the Ipublic nversion as a growth engine. Your electoral program raises an ambitious plan for Modernize infrastructure, strengthen the national industry and reform the tax system, in order to reduce inequalities and finance public spending.
One of the pillars of his proposal is the Increase in public investmentwith special attention to the railway sector. Scholz defends a plan Modernization and expansion of public transport That not only seeks to improve the efficiency and sustainability of mobility in Germany, but also to boost economic growth through employment generation and the revitalization of the infrastructure sector.
In the industrial field, the chancellor has reiterated his commitment to the protection of national productive fabric, manifesting its opposition to the closure of manufacturing plants and proposing strategic subsidies for key sectors. In particular, bet on a Steel industry support plan and electric vehicle productiontwo sectors that face strong pressure due to high energy costs. With a look beyond German borders, Scholz has also raised the need for Create a European Subsidies Program to promote the competitiveness of the automotive sector in front of the Asian and American markets.
The third great axis of its economic proposal is a Progressive tax reform oriented to Relieve the tax burden of workers with low and medium income. Its plan includes tax reduction in these segments and an increase in the minimum wage, measures that seek to stimulate consumption and strengthen domestic demand. To finance these initiatives without compromising fiscal stability, Scholz proposes a Increase in the taxation of the highest incomewith the objective of redistributing wealth and guaranteeing the necessary resources to sustain public investments.
A balanced immigration policy between control and human rights
Scholz’s message is clear: An effective immigration policy does not go through populist measures or the erosion of democratic values, but by a pragmatic, regulated and based on the balance between control and human rights.
In a context of growing migration pressure and a polarized debate about the role of Germany in the reception of refugees, Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz has defended a immigration policy that combines security, legality and respect for human rights. Faced with the most restrictive proposals of its main rival, Friedrich Merz, Scholz argues that his strategy has already given concrete results, with a significant reduction in illegal immigration and the application of measures consistent with European law.
One of the achievements that Scholz has claimed in this area is decrease in asylum requests for 2024as well as the expulsion of 40,000 migrants in an irregular situation. According to the Chancellor, these figures reflect a turn in immigration policy that prioritizes a more effective control of borders without falling into extremist speeches or measures that violate international law. His proposal, stresses, seeks to ensure that immigration is carried out in an orderly and legal manner, strengthening cooperation mechanisms with countries of origin and transit to better manage migratory flows.
The German leader has also emphasized the need for Germany to maintain its commitment to the fundamental principles of European law in asylum. He has warned that proposals such as “hot returns”, promoted by more conservative sectors, could violate community regulations and damage the image of the country in the international context. In this sense, the Foreign Minister underlines the importance of a common solution at the European Union level, remembering that the new European Asylum system, which will enter into force in 2026, represents a victory for the German position in the negotiation.
Scholz marks distance with the extreme right and accuses Merz of breaking a political taboo
The relationship with the extreme right has become one of the most controversial issues of the German electoral campaign. The chancellor has adopted a firm and concessions posture: His rejection of any type of collaboration with alternative for Germany (AFD) is absolute. According to the politician, the rise of this party is a direct threat to democratic values and the country’s social cohesion, so it is essential to maintain a “SANITARY CORD” to prevent their influence on institutions.
During the recent debate with his opponent, Friedrich Merz, held on February 9, Scholz harshly criticized the Christian Democráta Union (CDU) for having accepted votes of the AFD in the Bundestag, which in his opinion constitutes a break with a fundamental political principle of postwar German democracy. He recalled that even former chancellor Angela Merkel, withdrawal from politics, reappeared to condemn the actions of her successor at the head of the conservative party, reaffirming the containment line that the CDU had maintained during her mandate.
However, Merz tried to defend himself by pointing out that Scholz, in a 2023 interview in a Turingia newspaper, had relativized the importance of specific agreements with the AFD at the municipal level. With this argument, the leader of the CDU tried to subtract weight from the accusations of collusion, although he avoided positioning himself sharply on future cooperation scenarios with the extreme right.
The question is not less. In recent weeks, the streets of Germany have been the scene of massive protests against the rise of AFD, reflecting a growing citizen concern for the normalization of a party that has been indicated by its xenophobic rhetoric and its Eurosptic position. Scholz has taken advantage of this context to reinforce his message: Any approach to the extreme right, even indirectly, is a betrayal of democratic principles that support German politics.
Bet on European security and support for Ukraine
Olaf Scholz has focused its foreign policy on strengthening Germany’s position within the international community, betting on the European cooperation and support for strategic allies. Its electoral program reflects a combination of pragmatism and commitment, especially with regard to war in Ukraine and the role of Germany in NATO.
The Foreign Minister has reiterated his unwavering commitment to Ukraine, ensuring that Berlin will continue to provide financial and military support “while necessary.” Germany, highlights Scholz, has become kyiv’s main European support, supplying armament and key resources for his defense. However, your position is maintained prudent in terms of long -range missiles, Like Taurus, arguing that their use could be interpreted as a direct escalation in the conflict. This position has earned him criticism both inside and outside the country, with sectors that accuse him of lukewarm against Russian aggression.
On the other hand, Scholz has placed the strengthening of German and European security in the center of its strategy, committing to meet NATO’s objective of allocating the 2% of GDP to defense spending. However, it warns that the exhaustion of the Special Fund for Bundeswehr (the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany and its Civil Administration), endowed with 100,000 million euros after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will require new financing measures from 2028. In this sense, the Foreign Minister underlines the need to prioritize strategic investments without putting other key sectors of the economy at risk.
Unlike Friedrich Merz, who abouges a more aggressive increase in the military budget and a more active role in Germany in deterrence against Russia, Scholz bets on a balance between the reinforcement of national defense and fiscal stability. Its pragmatic approach reflects a vision in which diplomacy and containment continue to play a key role in German foreign policy, at a time when Europe faces increasingly complex threats.
