Scholz launches re-election campaign as Germany gears up for snap election
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is launching his campaign for re-election as Germany prepares for a snap election on February 23. Polls indicate strong public support for opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who leads the conservative CDU/CSU bloc. Scholz's government faces challenges after a recent crisis, including the dismissal of his Finance Minister. The economy is struggling, with concerns about manufacturing and investor sentiment declining. Scholz's party, the Social Democrats, is currently polling around 16%. The election could lead to a shift in power, with the CDU/CSU coalition favored to regain control. Coalition negotiations may delay the formation of a new government until April.