BERLIN, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz is to announce his candidacy as party lead of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), German media reported on Friday.
"I am prepared to compete, if you would like me to do so," Scholz said in a phone call with interim SPD leaders Malu Dreyer, Manuela Schwesig and Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel, according to a report by Der Spiegel.
Scholz, who currently also serves as deputy chancellor in Merkel's CDU and SPD coalition government, is reported to be looking for a female co-partner to campaign with.
Johannes Kahrs, spokesperson of the conservative wing of the SPD, welcomed the Scholz's decision.
"He can push through our SPD issues," Kahrs said, adding that Scholz had the "eye level and penetrating power" against the CDU's top candidates.
The application deadline for the SPD is Sept. 1, the same day on which state elections will be held in Brandenburg and Saxony.
A recent survey by the opinion research institute Civey showed that the SPD is to expect heavy losses while the rising populist AfD would become the strongest political force in Brandenburg.
After all candidates have come forward, the SPD leadership will be decided by a survey of party members and officially approved at the party conference in early December.
