In the surveys, the SPD has long been far behind the CDU/CSU. At a closed meeting, SPD leader Klingbeil now wants to swear his party into catching up.
Almost a year before the federal election, the SPD is lining up for the election campaign. “The SPD needs an attitude of will to win,” said party leader Lars Klingbeil to the editorial network Germany before a two-day closed meeting of the party executive committee in Berlin. “Everyone is looking at the traffic lights right now, but I want us as the SPD to start marching together.”
On Saturday, 250 sub-district chairmen of the SPD met at the Berlin party headquarters for consultations, followed by a meeting of the party executive committee. The board wants to prepare for the election campaign on Sunday and Monday.
Klingbeil: “I don’t believe in miracles, but in hard work.”
The SPD – currently the strongest government party – is far behind the CDU/CSU in all surveys and is either on par or just behind the AfD at 16 to 17 percent. Klingbeil called on his party to “catch up”. It’s about “focusing on the question of who should lead this country in the future. The SPD or the Merz-CDU.” Regarding the poor poll numbers, he said: “I don’t believe in miracles, I believe in hard work.”
As things stand, the federal election is scheduled to take place on September 28, 2025. The SPD leadership wants to go into the election campaign again with Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the top candidate. However, there should not be a formal decision on this at the board meeting. The party leadership wants to limit itself to content and strategies for the election campaign. The candidate for chancellor will only be nominated at a party conference in June.
Mützenich wants Chancellor with more rough edges
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended this approach. He thinks the early summer date is right. “Until then, Olaf Scholz can convince as Chancellor with outline, prudence and integrity,” he told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. “If I can support the Chancellor in showing even more of his rough edges, then I will be happy to do that.”
Source: Stern
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