A top official with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party has announced his resignation, citing health problems. Kevin Kühnert, 35, who has been the Social Democrats' general secretary since late 2021, made the decision a year before an upcoming election where the center-left party faces challenges.
Scholz led the party to a narrow victory in the previous national election, but the coalition government with the Greens and Free Democrats has faced criticism for internal conflicts, leading to a drop in poll ratings.
Kühnert, a former leader of the party's youth organization, played a prominent role in opposing the Social Democrats' alliance with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative government in 2018.
In a letter to party members shared on social media, Kühnert explained that due to his current health condition, he is unable to give his best effort in the upcoming election campaign. He expressed the need to focus on his well-being to regain the necessary energy for his role.
He informed the party's co-leaders of his decision to step down, with no immediate announcement of his successor.
This resignation follows recent changes in leadership within the governing parties, with the Greens' co-leaders also announcing their departure due to disappointing election results.
The Social Democrats have faced challenges in recent elections, finishing behind the conservative Union bloc and the far-right Alternative for Germany in the European Parliament election and experiencing poor results in state elections in eastern Germany.
