THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
At a special party congress in Berlin on Saturday, 11 January, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) formally announced Chancellor Olaf Scholz as their candidate for Germany’s upcoming federal election on 23 February. Scholz’s candidacy was approved by delegates with overwhelming support, following weeks of internal debates over whether Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who enjoys greater popularity, should replace him as the nominee.
During his speech to the party delegates, Scholz struck an optimistic tone, drawing on his past electoral successes as mayor of Hamburg, where he won elections in February twice before. “This gives us courage in these times,” Scholz remarked, urging his party to rally around him for a decisive victory. He framed the election as a pivotal moment for Germany, emphasizing that the country faces a fundamental choice about its future direction.
Scholz pledged to focus on key issues such as fair wages, affordable housing, and pension security, while taking aim at the CDU/CSU. He accused them of serving only the interests of the wealthy elite and criticized other opposition parties for offering empty slogans and outdated solutions. “Now is not the time for superficial rhetoric or policies that burden ordinary people,” he declared.
The SPD faces an uphill battle as recent polls place the party at just 14%, lagging significantly behind the CDU/CSU (30%), the far-right AfD (21%), and the Greens (15%). These numbers suggest that the former traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP would no longer have a parliamentary majority. Instead, alternative coalitions, such as one between the CDU/CSU and the Greens, might emerge as viable options.
With just weeks to go, the 2025 federal election promises to be one of the most consequential in recent years, potentially reshaping Germany’s political landscape. Scholz, despite trailing in the polls, is betting on his leadership experience and social democratic principles to close the gap and appeal to undecided voters.
Femi Awoniyi
