Exclusive
“We need a quick decision for Pistorius”
Despite overwhelming poll numbers in favor of Boris Pistorius, the SPD leadership is sticking with Olaf Scholz as its candidate for chancellor. But warning voices at the grassroots level are increasing.
He once led the Thuringian SPD, was until recently mayor of Erfurt and can therefore speak more openly than others in his party. Andreas Bausewein has now clearly spoken out in favor of Boris Pistorius as the SPD’s candidate for chancellor.
“We live in a time in which people take sides,” Bausewein told the star. “If the SPD wants to have a chance of defeating the Union, then our best chance is Boris Pistorius.”
The ex-mayor is amplifying voices from Hamburg’s citizens, but also from several districts. Most recently, district administrators Thomas Will from Groß-Gerau in Hesse and Matthias Jendricke from Nordhausen in Thuringia called for the decision to be made by the Federal Minister of Defense.
“We have to rely on the candidate with whom we can win. And that is Boris Pistorius, but not Olaf Scholz,” Jendricke told the star. It would be “negligent not to take advantage of this opportunity.”
According to Bausewein, the party now needs to discuss a question: “What is most beneficial for the country and the party?” This does not mean criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, but rather a “sober assessment”.
The former state party leader pointed out that time was of the essence. “We only have a few weeks until the hot election campaign begins, so we need a quick decision for Boris Pistorius,” said Bausewein. He very much hopes that the Defense Minister will be available: “I know many Social Democrats who see it the same way as I do.”
Survey: SPD supporters’ clear preference for Boris Pistorius
Bausewein can feel confirmed by a new survey. The opinion research institute forsa asked RTL/ntv about the prospects for a – purely theoretical – direct election of the Federal Chancellor. After that, 25 percent would choose Friedrich Merz, but 39 percent would choose Pistorius.
Last week, forsa asked whether the SPD should appoint Pistorius or Scholz. The result was clear: 57 percent were in favor of nominating the defense minister – and only 13 percent were in favor of a candidacy for the incumbent chancellor. 58 percent of SPD supporters also preferred Pistorius.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich recently admitted debates about the candidacy for chancellor. “Yes, there is grumbling,” he said on ZDF. Of course there are these voices too. In the end, the party knows that it can only win together. He is firmly convinced that this will succeed with Scholz.
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.
