BERLIN - After weeks of deliberations within the party, Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Monday decided to nominate Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the candidate to lead the upcoming snap election next year. 

The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Scholz alongside SPD co-leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken. Scholz had been under pressure to give up his candidacy amid internal disagreements. 

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According to the political research institute INSA, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is currently the most popular German politician. However, Pistorius announced last week in a video message that he would withdraw his name from the candidate running, paving the way for Scholz's candidacy. 

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A Forsa survey published on Nov 19 shows that the SPD is currently trailing the opposition bloc in nationwide support rate. The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) hold a support rate of 33 percent, significantly exceeding the SPD's 15 percent. 

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Chancellor Scholz will face a confidence vote at the Bundestag on Dec 16. A snap federal election is expected to take place on Feb 23, 2025.