Franz Muentefering, leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), moves a plastic house beside German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz (L) after both wrote slogans on buildings of a Diorama designed by Germany's SPD during their visit at the model railway 'Miniatur Wunderland' in Hambur...

Franz Muentefering, leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), and German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz (L) look on after both wrote slogans on buildings of a Diorama designed by Germany's SPD during their visit at the model railway 'Miniatur Wunderland' in Hamburg September 5, 20...

Getty Images 8 months ago

German Labour Minster Olaf Scholz (R) talks to Russia's Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova (C) and European Union Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Spidla as they take place for a family picture of the G8 Social Summit on M...

Getty Images 8 months ago

German Labour Minster Olaf Scholz (L) talks to Japan's health, walfare and labour vice-minister Takao Watanabe as they take place for a family picture of the G8 Social Summit on March 30, 2009 in Rome.

Getty Images 6 months ago

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz sits in a BMW Z4 as he visits a BMW plant in the southern German city of Dingolfing on May 4, 2009. Scholz spoke with workers about their situation at the plant.

Olaf Scholz of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) uses his mobile phone during a party congress in Dresden, November 15, 2009.

Olaf Scholz, Sigmar Gabriel, new elected leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and party secretary general Andrea Nahles (LtoR) attend party congress in Dresden, November 14, 2009.

Leading member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Olaf Scholz (foreground C) votes for a proposal during a party congress in Dresden, November 14, 2009.

Newly elected leading members of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), treasurer Barbara Hendricks, Deputy Leaders Klaus Wowereit, Hannelore Kraft and Olaf Scholz, Secretary General Andrea Nahles, Party Leader Sigmar Gabriel, Deputy Leader Manuela Schwesig and Representative to the E...

Getty Images 2 weeks ago

DRESDEN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 13: (From L to R) Newly elected leading members of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), including Treasurer Barbara Hendricks, co-Deputy Chairman Klaus Wowereit, co-Deputy Chairwoman Hannelore Kraft, co-Deputy Chairman Olaf Scholz, General Secretary And...

Newly elected leading members of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), Deputy Leaders Klaus Wowereit, Hannelore Kraft, Olaf Scholz, Secretary General Andrea Nahles, Deputy Leader Manuela Schwesig, Party Leader Sigmar Gabriel and Representative to the EU Martin Schulz (L-R) pose for p...

German President Horst Koehler (7th R) and Angela Merkel (C) German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pose for a family photo with outgoing cabinet ministers after they were formally relieved of their government duties at Bellevue Castle in Berlin October 27,...

German President Horst Koehler (7th R) and Angela Merkel (C) German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pose for a family photo with outgoing cabinet ministers after they were formally relieved of their government duties at Bellevue Castle in Berlin October 27,...

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz awaits the start of the last cabinet meeting of the coalition between Social Democrats and Christian Democrats in Berlin, October 7, 2009.

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz awaits the start of the last cabinet meeting of the coalition between Social Democrats and Christian Democrats in Berlin, October 7, 2009.

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) of the SPD await the last cabinet meeting of the coalition between Social Democrats and Christian Democrats in Berlin, October 7, 2009.

President of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) Michael Sommer (C) welcomes Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) and Labour Minister Olaf Scholz to a ceremony marking the DGB's 60th anniversary in the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin October 5, 2009.

German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck (R) talks to Labour Minister Olaf Scholz during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, September 8, 2009.

Franz Muentefering (2nd L), leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), and German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz (L) watch a Diorama during their visit at the model railway 'Miniatur Wunderland' in Hamburg September 5, 2009.

Franz Muentefering, leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), and German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz (L) watch a Diorama showing the launch of a Space shuttle during their visit at the model railway 'Miniatur Wunderland' in Hamburg September 5, 2009.

Getty Images 2 months ago

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz addresses a press conference at a federal employment agency (Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit) in Berlin on September 2, 2009, during the presentation of a new job search engine.

Getty Images 2 months ago

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz addresses a press conference at a federal employment agency (Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit) in Berlin on September 2, 2009, during the presentation of a new job search engine.

Getty Images 2 months ago

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz addresses a press conference at a federal employment agency (Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit) in Berlin on September 2, 2009, during the presentation of a new job search engine.

German Labour Minister Olaf Scholz arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, August 12, 2009.

Getty Images 3 months ago

BERLIN - AUGUST 12: (L-R) German Minister of Work and Social Issues Olaf Scholz, German Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend the weekly German government cabinet meeting at the Chancellery on August 12, 2009 in Berlin,...