Germany's ruling Social Democrats officially made Chancellor Olaf Scholz their lead candidate on Monday for February's election, billing him as a safe pair of hands compared with the opposition conservatives contender who has no government experience.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended the Social Democratic Party's (SPD) internal deliberations over his re-nomination as their top candidate for the upcoming early elections. Speaking on the German broadcaster ZDF's programme Heute Journal on Monday evening,

Increasing numbers in his own center-left party say he should, arguing for a more charismatic leader who might better their electoral chances.