Parties: Kühnert’s successor Miersch: What the new SPD general stands for

The new SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch has expressed his support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz – but also wants to contradict him. “Olaf Scholz will be able to rely on me one hundred percent,” said the 55-year-old in Berlin. At the same time, he emphasized: “I will not be comfortable and a simple yes-man.”

The man from Lower Saxony is taking over the position from Kevin Kühnert, who unexpectedly resigned on Monday for health reasons, with immediate effect. It is intended to restore stability and strength to the Chancellor’s party, which is reeling according to poll numbers.

Miersch is counting on Scholz as his candidate for chancellor

One year before the federal election – in a strategically critical phase – the member of the Bundestag is also involved in organizing the SPD election campaign. However, it is expected that party leader Lars Klingbeil, who himself organized the successful election campaign before the last federal election, will also be heavily involved.

The election campaign “will now be the task of the party leadership,” said Klingbeil. The SPD is keen on it. Of course, she doesn’t want to end the coalition prematurely, but instead wants to fulfill the traffic light contract. But: “If things turn out differently, then we are prepared.”

Miersch emphasized that he firmly believes that Scholz will be the candidate for chancellor. But it is “not at all necessary” to nominate him now. “We have a candidate,” he emphasized. Now Scholz must first concentrate on the current government work.

Miersch also does not want to publicly think about coalition options after the next federal election. The SPD’s declared goal is to become the strongest faction in the Bundestag again. “And then we’ll see.”

Experts in energy, industrial and climate policy

Miersch, who was born in Hanover, is an experienced politician and strategist. He has been a member of the Bundestag since 2005 and is one of the spokespersons for the Parliamentary Left in the SPD. As parliamentary group deputy, he is responsible for the environment, climate protection and energy policy. He not only negotiated the controversial heating law with the Greens and the FDP, but is also currently collecting ideas from the SPD for better industrial policy – to save jobs and for cheap industrial electricity.

This makes Miersch an expert in an area in which the SPD expects a tough election campaign battle with the CDU/CSU. The doctor of law is also considered a generalist who can speak on many political topics. He now has to prove that: Without a long start-up time, he has to stand up to the Union chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, for example on talk shows.

He is looking forward to that, emphasized Miersch. Because Merz embodies “everything that I don’t stand for.” As an example, Miersch cited Merz’s statement that Germany needs respect for higher earners. “As a social democrat, I have respect for everyone,” he emphasized. But politics is aimed specifically at those who hold the country together and who are not among the higher earners.

Miersch: “Something like fate”

In the SPD, the lawyer had been considered for leading positions as minister or parliamentary group leader for years – but ultimately always came up short. The fact that Klingbeil and co-party leader Saskia Esken had now asked him to become general secretary was “perhaps something like fate,” said Miersch.

He is very aware that politics in Berlin can be merciless. “I think I’m someone who can be very sensitive,” he admitted. But he is convinced that he is up to the task.

Delicate situation Schröder honor

The 55-year-old is considered a confidant of party leader Klingbeil – both come from Lower Saxony. He is valued across all wings in the group and also has a good reputation among the states.

He had to manage a delicate situation when the now controversial former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was honored for 60 years of SPD membership. Miersch is district chairman in Schröder’s home SPD district of Hanover and gave a speech on Schröder’s behalf.

Now, with a view to the former Chancellor, he called for people not to think “too much in black and white.” He does not share Schröder’s attitude towards Russian President Vladimir Putin and would like him to continue to have clearer words about the Russian war of aggression. “But I also don’t hide, and I don’t want to hide, the fact that as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany he did a lot for this country, for example keeping this country out of the Iraq war.”

Miersch is a different type than his predecessor Kühnert, who was celebrated as the SPD’s rhetorical talent. The ability to inspire people is what he particularly values ​​about Kühnert, said the Lower Saxon.

He himself seems more sober when he tries to score points with content. Miersch will be able to prove his diplomatic qualities directly. Because especially in the left wing, which he represents, there are rumblings about the traffic light and Chancellor Scholz’s asylum policy. The new Secretary General will have to appease this.