Party congress: harmony with Scholz – Klingbeil “lightning rod”

Controlling words from former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and ex-party leader Saskia Esken before the SPD: In contrast, Scholz does not want to stand out from provocations, Espet is without a melancholy from the party leadership. Party leader Lars Klingbeil also sees himself at the party congress in Berlin after his surprisingly weak re -election as a “lightning rod” for resentment in the party.

The delegates continued the SPD party conference under the impression of the miserable 64.9 percent results from Klingbeil from the previous evening. The new co-party leader Bärbel BAS had 95, the new general secretary Tim Klüssendorf received 90.8 percent.

What Scholz the party says goodbye

Scholz agreed to his party to do social democratic politics even after his term: “I plan to be a former Chancellor that the SPD is always happy about.” Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has a difficult relationship with his party, especially because of his proximity to Russia’s dictator Vladimir Putin.

Scholz promised to work in dealing with the historically bad Bundestag election result (16.4 percent). “I want to take part in the debate with the new role.” The focus must be on the original social democratic topic of respect. The fact that right populism find support in many wealthy countries has to do with a lack of hope.

Esken: More cooperation

Esken called up the SPD for more cohesion when it said goodbye from the party leadership. The party used to help the party to success – “and that’s exactly how we have to do it again today”. Esken had left empty in the SPD’s personnel carousel after the election: the 63-year-old did not get a post in the cabinet. Esken Scholz thanked particularly warmly. “You were my chancellor and we reached a lot together.” Scholz has a warm heart and a cool head especially in stormy times.

Treasurer Dietmar Nietan once again responded to Klingbeil in the election of the chairmanship: “To cool the mink in the anonymity of a secret coordination, does not testify to me,” he said at the speaker. If you want to punish someone, you should say that “and then you have to discuss it”. The debate on Friday evening, however, had abbreviated the party congress on the application for delegates, and around 35 announced speeches fell away.

A SPD leader had never had a bad election result as Klingbeil without opposing candidates. Observers also consider this to be expressed discomfort in the concentration of power of the Vice Chancellor, Minister of Finance and SPD bosses.

Klingbeil himself said: “I knew it would be a difficult result.” Some of them did not like the coalition with the Union. Even the generation change in the cabinet, faction and party leadership that he drove up did not make some happy. “I may also be a bit of the lightning rod for many others, and that is one of the responsibility,” he said on Friday evening at a reception of the more conservative party wing, the Seeheim district.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reported that he said to Klingbeil: “In a year at the latest, probably earlier, no one talks about it anymore because we are social democrats.”

SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch tuned his party on painful compromises in the coalition with the Union. For example, Schwarz-Rot exposed the family reunification to refugees with limited protection status. “This is a compromise that we didn’t just like. But it is in the coalition agreement,” said Miersch. The SPD approved this contract with a large majority, and it now had to implement it.

In principle, the SPD adheres to its demand for 15 euros minimum wage, as made clear in a decision. Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas had already made it clear that she wanted to follow a vote by the minimum wage commission for 14.60 euros from last Friday by regulation.

How else with the Bundeswehr?

Controversial positions were expected in a debate that is up to the early Saturday evening, in which the SPD wants to determine its foreign and security policy course in view of the current threats from Russia. A conscription should also be discussed.

Scholz warned against making illusions about Putin’s plans. Good earners should be used more to finance defense ability. “In any case, I believe that we are asked for new solidarity in our country.”

As a guest speaker, Turkish CHP chairman Özgür Özel Germany called up to support the opposition in his country, which is exposed to repression. The CHP is a sister party of the SPD. The party congress unanimously decided to immediately released the Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu and all other political prisoners in Turkey, which has been in custody since March 19.