Germany's Scholz first in SPD leader vote but faces run-off

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz came first in a vote for a new leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) but fell short of a majority, setting up a run-off pitting the supporter of the coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel against a sceptic of that arrangement.

The SPD said Scholz, who ran on a joint ticket with Klara Geywitz from eastern Germany, won 22.7% of the vote by members. Norbert Walter-Borjans, who has left open the future of the coalition with Merkel's conservatives, came second with 21%.

A run-off vote takes place next month and a party conference in December must then formally approve the leadership vote.