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Meet the man who could dethrone Merkel

Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP

Martin Schulz, the former President of the European Parliament, is now running against Angela Merkel for the German Chancellorship with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany. Since he announced his candidacy in November, the SPD's popularity ratings have risen by 10-11%, according to the Financial Times, outshining Merkel's own conservative party.

  • Schulz never received a university degree, but was an avid reader, and started his own local bookstore.
  • He can speak English, French, Italian and Dutch.
  • Schulz got involved in politics by becoming Mayor of a small town, Würselen.
  • In 1995, he was then elected to the European Parliament, rising to become its president.
  • He accepted an Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the EU.
  • An SPD advisor told FT, "He is not a calm person."
  • When it comes to domestic policy, he has said his aim is "social justice."
  • He has called for financial flexibility for countries in the EU who are struggling.

Bad news for Merkel: Although it's still more likely she'll win election again in September, it will be much closer than in years past, especially with the growing unpopularity of her refugee policies.

Bad news for the German far right: Shulz is now in a position to win votes from the people who are unhappy with Merkel, and also steal protest votes from the right-wing, populist party Alternative für Deutschland.

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Updated 43 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Coronavirus deaths reach 4,000 per day as hospitals remain in crisis mode — CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant could become dominant in U.S. in March.
  2. Politics: Biden says, "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution — Biden taps ex-FDA chief to lead Operation Warp Speed amid rollout of COVID plan — Widow of GOP congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 will run to fill his seat.
  3. Vaccine: Battling Black mistrust of the vaccines — "Pharmacy deserts" could become vaccine deserts — Instacart to give $25 to shoppers who get vaccine.
  4. Economy: Unemployment filings explode again — Fed chair: No interest rate hike coming any time soon —  Inflation rose more than expected in December.
  5. World: WHO team arrives in China to investigate pandemic origins.
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Axios
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

NRA declares bankruptcy, says it will reincorporate in Texas

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA) speaks during CPAC in 2016. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The National Rifle Association said Friday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will seek to reincorporate in Texas, calling New York, where it is currently registered, a "toxic political environment."

The big picture: The move comes just months after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit to dissolve the NRA, alleging the group committed fraud by diverting roughly $64 million in charitable donations over three years to support reckless spending by its executives.

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Hans Nichols, author of Sneak Peek
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden: "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution

Joe Biden. Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

President-elect Joe Biden promised to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase vaccine manufacturing, as he outlined a five-point plan to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations in the first months of his presidency.

Why it matters: With the Center for Disease Control and Prevention warning of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, Biden is trying to establish how he’ll approach the pandemic differently than President Trump.

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