For the first time, a woman is at the head of the Rhineland-Palatinate SPD. Bätzing-Lichtenthäler gets an exceptionally large number of votes – and completes the generational change in the governing party.
The Rhineland-Palatinate SPD also elected its state parliamentary group leader Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler as party leader with an unusually large majority. The 49-year-old from the Westerwald received 98.98 percent of the delegate votes at the party conference in Mainz. According to the party, Kurt Beck last got an even better result in 2008 with 99.5 percent. Bätzing-Lichtenthäler is the first woman in the office and, for the first time in 30 years, combines party and parliamentary group leadership in one person.
The SPD has led the government in the state for 33 years – and has now completed a generational change with a view to the state elections in 2026. Alexander Schweitzer was elected as the successor to Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (63) in the state parliament on July 10th, also with a particularly good result: he received three more votes than the traffic light coalition has. The 51-year-old from the Palatinate and Bätzing-Lichtenthäler have known each other since their Juso days.
As he leaves, Lewentz vows that the party will achieve a “tremendous election victory” in 2026
Former Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (61) no longer ran as party leader in Mainz after twelve years. He played a key role in organizing the smooth change of leadership at the top of the party and government. At the party conference with the motto “Our tradition: future!” He was appointed second honorary chairman of the party – after Beck. In his farewell speech, he vowed that the party would achieve a “tremendous election victory” in the state elections. Schweitzer and Bätzing-Lichtenthäler are “the very best course” for this. “You can only inspire voters if there is an entire party behind them.”
Teuber is the new deputy party leader
Sven Teuber from Trier was elected deputy party chairman. The 41-year-old member of the state parliament received 90 percent of the votes cast. Bätzing-Lichtenthäler had previously held the post, so the election had become necessary. He also had no opposing candidates. In addition to Teuber, the deputy party leaders include Schweitzer and Finance Minister Doris Ahnen.
The new SPD leader wants to develop the program for the 2026 state elections in a multi-stage process with the members. “The highlight will be a congress in 2025,” said Bätzing-Lichtenthäler before her election. “We are right in the middle of the people and issues.” The participation process should be designed based on this spirit.
The total of around 450 delegates and guests said goodbye to Lewentz and former Prime Minister Malu Dreyer with long applause and signs saying “Thank you Malu!” or “Thanks Roger!” stood. Dreyer was made an honorary member of the party.
“You have supported me for 29 years,” said Dreyer as he said farewell to the delegates. She and Lewentz have always been able to rely on each other and she is sure that things will continue like this with Schweitzer and Bätzing-Lichtenthäler. “We are a strong SPD,” emphasized Dreyer. Former Prime Ministers Kurt Beck and Rudolf Scharping were also in the hall.
Bätzing-Lichtenthäler also announced that she wanted to win more members and get more women interested in SPD politics. Commitment to the party needs to be made easier so that anyone who has to make school sandwiches in the morning, then drive grandma to the pharmacy and pick up the children from soccer in the evening can also take part. What the SPD stands for needs to become even clearer, emphasized Bätzing-Lichtenthäler and named educational equality, strong communities in villages and cities as well as good wages and good work as priorities.
SPD party leader Klingbeil praises his “favorite regional association”
SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil spoke of a success story for his “favorite state association”. “You have strong personalities” who shaped the party in the state, at the federal level, at the European level and in the municipalities. The regional association is closed, focused on the future – and Dreyer and Lewentz are the decisive pillars of success. “The greatest strength lies in the proximity you have to the citizens,” emphasized Klingbeil and added: “That’s how I want our party to be.” He would also like to see more “unity and team spirit” in social democracy, like in Rhineland-Palatinate.
At the traffic lights in Rhineland-Palatinate, things are much easier than in Berlin, said Klingbeil on the sidelines of the party conference. “I have a great interest in things going better in Berlin.” In Rhineland-Palatinate, things could be agreed upon in a trusting manner and what was agreed upon would be implemented. Rhineland-Palatinate also shows how industrial jobs could be saved.
Schweitzer wants to “give everything that’s in me”
Schweitzer said: “I hope that the traffic lights in Berlin will regain their strength.” The federal coalition still has “so much ahead of it.” He would like to see “more Volker Wissing and less Wolfgang Kubicki” in the FDP. Schweitzer demanded that the pension issue be kept on track, citing the concerns of the FDP. “What’s discussed is discussed.” He also expects the reliability that the SPD in Rhineland-Palatinate exemplifies in the traffic lights in Berlin. As Prime Minister, Schweitzer promised to “give everything I have in me” and to fight every day.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
