NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has announced that he does not want to interfere in the ongoing election campaign in Germany, noting that he can work with both incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the chancellor candidate of the opposition conservative Christian Democratic and Christian Social Bloc. with
"I can work with both Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz," Rütte told DPA. It is important, he said, that Germany knows its values and collective security is at stake in its Ukraine policy.
Extraordinary parliamentary elections in Germany are scheduled for February 23, 2025. Based on their results, a new government will be formed and a new chancellor will be elected. Scholz is the chancellor candidate of the Social-Democrats and the main rival of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. The CDU/CSU rating is currently 30-33%, the SPD rating is 15-17%.
