With snap elections fast approaching, the parties that make up the German coalition government have decided not to ditch their current leaders, despite them having led one of the most unpopular governments in recent German history.

The Green party recently announced that vice chancellor and economy minister Robert Habeck will be their lead candidate in the elections, while the Social Democrats’ (SPD) nominee for chancellor will be the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

His nomination, though not yet formally announced, was practically confirmed after defence minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday, November 21st, ruled himself out of the running.

“I have just informed our party and parliamentary group leaders that I will not be standing as a candidate for the office of federal chancellor,” Pistorius said in a video posted to SPD social media channels on Thursday evening.

The defence minister was considered a possible replacement for Scholz as the SPD’s lead candidate. Pistorius is among the most popular politicians in the country.