Scholz will not take part in coalition talks with the CDU.

The Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, announced that he will not represent the Social Democratic Party of Germany in coalition negotiations with the Christian Democratic Union, which won the elections.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Bild and tagesschau.

"I will not be the chief negotiator for the SPD," Scholz stated during a broadcast on ARD and ZDF.

The Chancellor added that he will not participate in this potential future coalition either.

"It is quite clear to me that I applied for the position of federal chancellor, not for any other position in the government," he emphasized.

The current Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, who was previously mentioned as a likely successor to Scholz within the SPD, stated that the party is ready to discuss forming a government with the CDU, and he sees himself participating in these negotiations as the party leader.

A decision on this may be made at party committees as early as tomorrow.

"The party will decide which team we will go with in the coming months and years," Pistorius declared.

Bundestag Elections

On Sunday, February 23, extraordinary parliamentary elections took place in Germany. They were announced after the collapse of the coalition consisting of the SPD, the Free Democratic Party, and the Greens.

According to exit polls, the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, is winning the elections, with the SPD in third place. The far-right "Alternative for Germany," which has pro-Russian leanings, may come in second.

For more details on the initial forecasts and possible voting outcomes in Germany - in the RBK-Ukraine article.