He announced this in a video message on Thursday to his party members in the Social Democratic Party SPD, according to the German newspaper Focus. Instead, he stands firm behind Germany's Federal Chancellor.
Olaf Scholz stands for reason and caution. And that is especially important in times like these, in times of global upheavals and dangerous populist attacks on democracy all over the world, he says in the video.
Pistorius has been pointed out as a potential top name to take over after Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Since the German coalition government with SPD, The Green Party and the liberal FDP in practice broke apart when Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), the government power will be decided in two steps.
A vote of confidence will be held on December 16 in the Bundestag. If Scholz loses, new elections will be held on February 23.
