The Quiet German on the Verge of a Shock Win
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz.
Photographer: Kay Nietfeld/AFP/Getty Images
In some ways, Olaf Scholz, the front-runner to replace Angela Merkel as Germany’s chancellor, owes his political resurrection to the pandemic.
Less than two years ago, the finance minister was contemplating getting out of politics all together. His Social Democrats had rejected him as party leader. He was seen as too moderate and too close to Merkel.