German Social Democrats Ditch Scholz After Historic Defeat

Germany’s Social Democrats are taking steps to revamp their leadership as a role in a new government beckons, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party slumped to its worst election result since World War II.

Despite falling more than nine percentage points to 16.5% in Sunday’s election, according to the latest projection by broadcaster ARD, the SPD will probably be tapped by election winner Friedrich Merz to enter coalition talks. His conservative Christian Democrats will likely only be able to secure a majority in the Bundestag with the Social Democrats or Alternative for Germany.