German leader Scholz's party moves fast to replace an official in a key campaign post
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party has moved quickly to replace a top official who stepped down less than a year ahead of a challenging national election
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party moved quickly to replace a top official who stepped down less than a year ahead of a challenging national election, presenting a well-connected left-wing lawmaker on Tuesday as his replacement in a post that is important for the campaign.
Kevin Kühnert resigned on Monday as the center-left Social Democrats' general secretary, the official who is responsible for day-to-day political strategy and usually is the lead election campaign manager. Kühnert, 35, an important power-broker in the party in recent years, cited unspecified health problems.
The party leadership on Tuesday presented senior lawmaker Matthias Miersch, 55, as his replacement, describing him as well-connected in the party, in parliament and in states run by the Social Democrats.
The Social Democrats' poll ratings have dropped sharply since Scholz narrowly won Germany's 2021 election. The chancellor's coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats has become notorious for constant infighting.
