How did Olaf Scholz become the Social Democratic Party of Germany candidate for chancellor in 2021?

Olaf Scholz became the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) candidate for chancellor in 2021 despite having lost a party leadership contest in 2019 to candidates from the party's left wing.1

His selection was driven by his role as vice chancellor and finance minister in the government of Angela Merkel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scholz became the face of the administration's economic response, notably suspending the constitutional balanced-budget rule to fund a massive rescue package for businesses and workers. This leadership during the crisis helped his standing with voters rise in the months preceding the September 2021 general election. Ultimately, his presence on the ticket appealed to centrist voters who desired a sense of continuity with the Merkel administration, helping the SPD secure a narrow victory.12