Olaf Scholz — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He led Germany through the rupture of the Russian invasion, declared a Zeitenwende — a turning point — in defense policy, then watched his coalition splinter over budget limits and his party collapse to its worst postwar result in the snap election that ended his chancellorship in 2025.

Biography

About

Born in Osnabrück in 1958 and raised in Hamburg, Scholz studied law and worked as a labour lawyer before joining the SPD in the 1970s. He entered the Bundestag in 1998, became the party's general secretary in 2002 under Gerhard Schröder, and served as Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the first Merkel government from 2007 to 2009. After leading the SPD to victory in Hamburg's 2011 state election, he served as first mayor until 2018, when he returned to federal politics as finance minister and vice chancellor. Nominated as the SPD's chancellor candidate in 2020, he won a pluralit…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz

said5 Mar 2023

Changing borders by force is not acceptable.

— In an interview on CNN Fareed Zakaria GPS aired (MARCH 5, 2023)

Olaf Scholz

said12 Feb 2023

Now, this was an act of war, pure and simple... against Germany.

— Ray McGovern, Transcription of Ray’s Feb 11 Comments on Sy Hersh, on Blowing Up Nord Stream Interviewed by Garland Nixon , February 12, 2023

Olaf Scholz

said3 Nov 2022

[if Beijing] tightens international production chains' dependence on China, [Berlin will] dismantle one-sided dependencies [where needed.

— Why Western leaders are warily watching the German leader's trip to China (November 3, 2022)

Olaf Scholz

said17 Jun 2022

I am not going to join the queue of people who do a quick in-and-out (of Ukraine) for a photo opportunity. If I go (to Ukraine), it will be about concrete things.

— Olaf Scholz cited in: "Opinion: Olaf Scholz in Kyiv — winning back a bit of trust" in DW, 17 June 2022.

Olaf Scholz

said28 May 2022