Scholz Pitches Taxing the Rich to Revive Bid to Succeed Merkel

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz pledged to increase taxes on the wealthy, spend on cleaner technology and expand social programs if he were to win the chancellery for the Social Democrats in the fall.

Scholz sought to bolster his bid to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor in an acceptance speech at a party meeting on Sunday. With four years as Merkel’s vice chancellor and an earlier stint as labor minister, Scholz has the most government experience of any candidate in the race, but he’s still a long shot to win.

Olaf Scholz

Photographer: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg

“We want to see fair taxation -- taxation that’s ...