Prominent SPD politician no longer sees Scholz as "the best choice"

Wolfgang Schmidt calls for new personnel at the party leadership

Saxony's SPD leader Wolfgang Schmidt has called for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign as party leader. In an interview with the "Spiegel", Schmidt said: "I don't think Olaf Scholz is the best choice for party leader anymore."

Schmidt criticized Scholz's handling of the Ukraine war, the energy crisis and the inflation rate. He said: "We have lost a lot of trust. We need a new start with new personnel." Schmidt is the first prominent SPD politician to publicly call for Scholz's resignation.

The SPD leadership has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks. The party has suffered heavy losses in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. In addition, the party is struggling with internal strife.

It is unclear whether Scholz will comply with Schmidt's request. Scholz has so far ruled out his resignation. He said he wanted to continue to lead the party and the country through the crisis.

It remains to be seen whether Schmidt's call for resignation will find a majority in the SPD. However, the fact that a prominent politician like Schmidt is now publicly criticizing Scholz is a sign of the growing dissatisfaction within the party.