Olaf Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left and Minister President Anke Rehlinger speak to local residents as they visit Kleinblittersdorf, Germany, which was hit by flooding, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Scholz has toured flooded regions in the southwest, where rivers have swelled and caused flash floods and landslides after heavy rain and severe weather. (Harald Tittel/dpa via AP)

The German chancellor tours flooded regions in the southwest in a show of solidarity

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has toured flooded regions in the southwest, where rivers have swelled and caused flash floods and landslides after heavy rain and severe weather.

Climate activists lie on a access road for runways at the Munich airport, Germany, Saturday, May 18, 2024. German officials and local media reported say authorities closed down Munich airport temporarily after six climate activists broke through a security fence and glued themselves to access routes leading to runways. The activists from the group Last Generation were protesting flying, the most polluting form of transportation, said the German news agency dpa on Saturday. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP)

Climate activists glue themselves at Munich airport to protest pollution caused by flying

German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left and SPD lead candidate for the European elections, Katarina Barley, listen, during Party of European Socialists (PES) Democracy Congress, in Berlin, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP)

A candidate for Germany’s key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at a Citizens' Dialogue organized by the Lüneburg SPD to kick off his party's European election campaign, in Luneburg, Germany, Saturday April 27, 2024. (Markus Scholz/dpa via AP)

As EU election campaigns kick off in Germany, the Ukraine war, rise of far right are dominant themes

FILE - In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, second from right, walk together in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Europe wants two things from China: First, a shift in its relatively pro-Russia position on the war in Ukraine. Second, a reduction in the trade imbalance. It’s not clear if it will get very far on either front. (Ding Haitao/Xinhua via AP, File)

Europe wants two things from China. It may not get far on either of them

German Chancellery flies rainbow flag on day opposing violence against LGBTQ+ community

The Head of the Federal Chancellery Wolfgang Schmidt on Friday raised the LGBTQ+ Pride flag at the German Chancellery in Berlin on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. (AP video shot by Fanny Brodersen)

Watch More

German parliament approves law that makes it easier for people to change their name, gender

Transgender German man reflects on his transition ahead of parliament debate on easing gender change

Scholz calls for more Gaza aid: ‘We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation’

More News

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, second from right, walk together in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Ding Haitao/Xinhua via AP)

The German chancellor presses China on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to pressure Russia to end its “insane campaign” in Ukraine, the latest in a parade of European leaders and senior officials to make such an appeal.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. in Jiulongpo District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Sunday, April 14, 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in China on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Huang Wei/Xinhua via AP)

Germany’s Scholz calls for fair competition and warns against dumping during China visit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for fair competition in trade relations with China while warning about dumping and overproduction while speaking to students in Shanghai on Monday.

FILE - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gestures as he arrives at the Party of European Socialists (PES) Leaders Conference, at the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon, in Bucharest, Romania, on April 6, 2024. Scholz arrived in China on Sunday, April 14, 2024 on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File)

Germany’s Scholz arrives in China on a visit marked by trade tensions and Ukraine conflict

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in China on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Demonstrators protest demanding a law to protect the rights of the transgender community outside of the parliament Bundestag building in Berlin, Friday, Apri 12, 2024. German lawmakers on Friday approved legislation that will make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to change their name and gender in official records. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

German parliament votes to make it easier for people to legally change their name and gender

German lawmakers have approved legislation that will make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to change their name and gender in official records.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a press conference on the decision on the future structure of the Bundeswehr, the German military, in Berlin, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Germany's defense minister on Thursday announced plans to streamline and reorganize the country's military command as part of efforts to make the armed forces of NATO's most populous European member “war-capable.” (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Germany’s defense minister overhauls the military command as he seeks ‘war-capable’ armed forces

Germany’s defense minister has announced a plan to streamline and reorganize the country’s military command as part of efforts to make the armed forces of NATO’s most populous European member “war-capable.”

FILE - An employee shows a growing cannabis or hemp plant in a box at the Cannabis Museum in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The German government’s plan to liberalize rules on cannabis has cleared its final parliamentary hurdle, clearing the way for the possession of limited amounts of marijuana to be decriminalized on April 1, 2024. In a second step, “cannabis clubs” that will be allowed to grow the substance for members’ personal use will be allowed to start work on July 1. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Germany’s plan to liberalize cannabis rules clears its final parliamentary hurdle

The German government’s plan to liberalize rules on cannabis has cleared its final parliamentary hurdle, paving the way for the possession of limited amounts of marijuana to be decriminalized on April 1.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, center, French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk shake hands at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk meet in Berlin for the so-called Weimar Triangle talks. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Germany, France and Poland vow to procure more weapons for Ukraine in a show of unity

Germany, France and Poland are vowing to procure more weapons for Kyiv and step up production of military equipment along with partners in Ukraine.

Members of the Bundestag debate during the 157th session of the Bundestag, in Berlin Thursday, March 14, 2024. Topics include the vote on the delivery of the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine and a debate on the Citizens' Council's recommendations on food policy, the election of a federal police commissioner and the reform of the Federal Police Act. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

Germany’s parliament rejects a new opposition call to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine

German lawmakers have rejected a new call by the opposition for the government to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, a day after Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his refusal to supply the weapons.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz answers questions from lawmakers at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Germany’s Scholz defends his refusal to send Ukraine Taurus missiles, says prudence is a virtue

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended his refusal to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers his speech at the PES congress after main candidate to the next European elections Nicolas Schmit has been elected, in Rome, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Germany investigates after a recording of its officers discussing aid to Ukraine is leaked in Russia

German authorities say they are investigating after an audio recording was published in Russia in which German military officers purportedly discussed support for Ukraine, including the potential use of Taurus long-range cruise missiles.

FILE -In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, a Taurus missile flies during a drill off the country's western coast in South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. The German government on Monday vehemently rejected allegations that Russia's leak of a conversation by high-ranking German military officers was an indication that Germany was preparing a war against Russia, while at the same time it sought to contain the domestic fallout from the leak and promised a quick investigation into how it was possible that a conversation by top German military personnel could be intercepted and published. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP, File)

Germany’s Scholz explains his reluctance to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made clear that he remains reluctant to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, pointing to a risk of his country becoming directly involved in the war.

German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach speaks during the debate on the law on the controlled release of cannabis in the plenary chamber of the German Bundestag, in Berlin, Friday Feb. 23, 2024. (Serhat Kocak/dpa via AP)

Germany’s parliament votes to legalize limited marijuana possession and allow ‘cannabis clubs’

German lawmakers have approved a government plan to liberalize rules on cannabis, paving the way for the country to decriminalize limited amounts of marijuana and allow members of “cannabis clubs” to buy it for recreational purposes.

German lawmaker Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann speaks in the Bundestag, Berlin, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. German lawmakers on Thursday approved a motion calling on the government to deliver “further necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition” to Ukraine, but voted down an opposition call explicitly to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

German lawmakers back sending further long-range weapons to Ukraine, but vague on details

German lawmakers have called on the government to deliver further long-range weapons to Ukraine, but voted down an opposition call explicitly urging it to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles.

Poll workers empty the ballot boxes at polling station 317 in the Carl von Ossietzky-Gymnasium during the vote count in Berlin, Sunday Feb. 11, 2024. A partial rerun of Germany's 2021 election in Berlin brought a decline in support for the governing parties and cost one of them a seat in parliament, but led to no significant overall change, official results showed Monday. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

Partial rerun of Germany’s 2021 election in Berlin costs a governing party 1 seat

A partial rerun of Germany’s 2021 election in Berlin brought a decline in support for the governing parties and cost one of them a seat in parliament, but led to no significant overall change.

In this photo provided by Bundesregierung, from left, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pose for a selfie on X, formerly Twitter, on Feb. 8, 2024. Both were seeing double when they met in Washington, D.C., this week and went on social media to share their mirror image with the world. (Bundesregierung.de via AP)

US Sen. Coons and German Chancellor Scholz see double at Washington meeting

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were seeing double when they met in Washington, D.C., and went on social media to share their mirror image with the world.

President Joe Biden, right, crosses his fingers in response to a comment from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Biden calls GOP holdup of Ukraine aid ‘close to criminal neglect’ as he meets with Germany’s Scholz

President Joe Biden says the Republican holdup on sending new U.S. aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia was “close to criminal neglect.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz boards a plane at the military section of Berlin Brandenburg Airport to fly to the USA, in Schönefeld, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Scholz pushed for further U.S. and European aid for Ukraine as he set off Thursday for a visit to Washington, declaring that it's time to send Russian President Vladimir Putin a “clear signal” that the West won't let up on supporting Kyiv. Scholz is due to meet members of the U.S. Congress on Thursday and President Joe Biden on Friday. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Germany’s Scholz heads to Washington, seeking a clear signal to Putin on aid for Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pushed for further U.S. and European aid for Ukraine as he set off for a visit to Washington.

The last light of the day was reflected on the wet concrete slabs of the Holocaust Memorial at the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz - Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Remembering the horrors of Auschwitz, German chancellor warns of antisemitism, threats to democracy

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on all citizens to defend Germany’s democracy and fight antisemitism as the country marks the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II.

Farmers place their tractors at the government district in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 ahead of a demonstration. This week began and ended with the long road in front of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate thronged by heavy vehicles tooting their horns in protest — farmers on Monday Jan. 15 and truckers on Friday Jan. 19, 2024. Such demonstrations underline deep frustration in Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, which came to power just over two years ago with a progressive, modernizing agenda but has come to be viewed by many as dysfunctional and incapable. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

Protests by farmers and others in Germany underline deep frustration with the government

This week began and ended with the long road in front of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate thronged by heavy vehicles tooting their horns in protest — farmers on Monday and truckers on Friday.

FILE - A person holds German and French, left, passports during a demonstration march to protest government plans to reform the education system, in Paris, France, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. German lawmakers have approved legislation easing rules to gain citizenship and ending restrictions on holding dual citizenship. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

German parliament approves easing rules to get citizenship, dropping restrictions on dual passports

German lawmakers have approved legislation easing rules to gain citizenship and ending restrictions on holding dual citizenship.

Farmers with tractors arrive for a protest at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 15, 2024. This week began and ended with the long road in front of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate thronged by heavy vehicles tooting their horns in protest — farmers on Monday Jan. 15 and truckers on Friday Jan. 19, 2024. Such demonstrations underline deep frustration in Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, which came to power just over two years ago with a progressive, modernizing agenda but has come to be viewed by many as dysfunctional and incapable. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

German farmers and their tractors throng Berlin in a protest against fuel subsidy cuts

Farmers have clogged Berlin streets with their tractors, honking their horns in protest at a plan to scrap tax breaks on the diesel they use.

FILE - Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes a government statement in the Bundestag, Berlin, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is calling for calm and a readiness to accept compromises as the country faces protests by farmers angry about a plan to cut their fuel subsidies. He warned Saturday of a danger from extremists stoking rage against a backdrop of wider discontent. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP, File)

Germany’s Scholz warns of extremists stoking rage as farmers protest and discontent is high

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is calling for calm and a readiness to accept compromises as the country faces protests by farmers angry about a plan to cut their fuel subsidies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives for a cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Germany’s Scholz condemns alleged plot by far-right groups to deport millions if they take power

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned alleged plans by members of far-right groups who supposedly met recently at a mansion outside Berlin to devise a plot to deport millions of immigrants, even those with German citizenship, if the groups take power.

Farmers demonstrate with their tractors in front of the state parliament in Kiel, Germany, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Farmers blocked highway access roads in parts of Germany Monday and gathered for demonstrations, launching a week of protests against a government plan to scrap tax breaks on diesel used in agriculture. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

German farmers block roads with tractors and stage protests against plan to scrap diesel tax breaks

Farmers are blocking highway access roads in parts of Germany and snarling traffic elsewhere, launching a week of protests against a government plan to scrap tax breaks on diesel used in agriculture.

FILE - Farmers with tractors take part in a protest rally organized by the German Farmers' Association in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. The German government on Thursday watered down cost-saving plans that have infuriated farmers, announcing that it will give up a proposal to scrap an exemption from car tax for farming vehicles and will stagger cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture. (Fabian Sommer/dpa via AP, File)

Germany’s government waters down a cost-cutting plan that infuriated the country’s farmers

The German government is watering down cost-saving plans that have infuriated farmers. It announced on Thursday that it will give up a proposal to scrap an exemption from car tax for farming vehicles and will stagger cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture.

Members of Germany’s smallest governing party vote to stay in Scholz’s coalition, prompting relief

Members of the smallest party in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s unpopular coalition have voted in a low-profile ballot to stay in the troubled government, but the result underlines the three-party alliance’s difficulties.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz talks to Karsten Hauschild from the DLRG in the flood area in Verden, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Scholz took a sightseeing flight in an air force helicopter to get an impression of the flood situation in the north of Lower Saxony. (Arne von Brill/dpa via AP)

German chancellor tours flooded regions in the northwest, praises authorities and volunteers

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has taken a helicopter flight to check the flooded regions in the northwest of the country, where rivers have swelled and overflowed homes, roads and fields after weeks of heavy rain.

EMBARGO - UNTIL DEC. 31, 2023 00:00 A.M. CET - FREE FOR SUNDAY DEC. 31, 2023 NEWSPAPERS - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz poses for photographs during the recording of his New Year's speech at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, Pool)

In a crisis-ridden world, Germany’s chancellor uses his New Year’s speech to convey confidence

Germany’s chancellor is using his New Year’s speech to call on his country’s citizens not to lose confidence in the future as they adapt to a world experiencing multiple crises and changing at an ever-faster pace.

FILE - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives for an EU Summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he has tested positive for COVID-19. Scholz wrote on the social media platform X that he was experiencing few symptoms on Monday and "counting on a mild case.” (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP, File)

German Chancellor Scholz tests positive for COVID, visit by new Slovak leader canceled

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he has tested positive for COVID-19. The government says a visit by Slovakia’s prime minister had to be canceled as a result.

From left, Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance, give a press statement on the agreement for the 2024 federal budget in the Federal Chancellery, in Berlin, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The German government on Wednesday reached a solution to a budget crisis triggered by a court ruling last month, German news agency dpa reported. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Germany’s government reaches a deal to resolve its budget crisis and keeps up support for Ukraine

Germany’s governing coalition has reached a deal to resolve a budget crisis triggered by a court ruling last month.