Germany’s Social Democrats are taking steps to revamp their leadership as a role in a new government beckons, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party slumped to its worst election result since World War II.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat in the national elections, acknowledging the poor election result and taking responsibility.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) after what he called “a bitter election result” on Sunday. Exit polls showed his party finishing in third place, taking just 16 per cent of the votes, with its worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election.