Despite his high level of popularity among citizens, he is not contesting the position of chancellor, leaving that role to Olaf Scholz.
As noted by Politico, the Social Democratic Party is not yet ready to change its main candidate, although internal tensions are rising. Olaf Scholz, the chancellor and leader of the SPD, is facing declining popularity and criticism even from party members. There is an opinion that Pistorius could deliver better results for the party in the upcoming elections expected in February 2024, following the collapse of the three-party coalition.
"The chancellor has done a good job in a very difficult situation, but now we have reached the end of the coalition and need a fresh start. This would be easier with Boris Pistorius than with Olaf Scholz," said Markus Tenz, an SPD deputy and long-time party member, to the German magazine Stern.
Pistorius, who took over the Ministry of Defense in 2023, has focused on strengthening the Bundeswehr and ramping up support for Ukraine. His initiatives include restructuring the army, increasing the defense budget, and fostering international cooperation, particularly with NATO allies and Baltic countries. This has made him one of Germany's most popular ministers, even among international partners.
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that he will not compete for the chancellorship from the Social Democratic Party, which is led by the current head of government, Olaf Scholz.
Pistorius is likely to remain and may play a significant role in any new government led by the probable next chancellor, CDU leader Friedrich Merz. According to current polls, the CDU will need at least one coalition partner—and it is likely to be the SPD.
Thus, Pistorius could very well return to the position of Minister of Defense in the next government.
Source: politico .