SPD candidacy for chancellor
Müntefering on the K question: No right to re-election
The SPD’s poll numbers are poor. Chancellor Scholz would still like to lead the party into the new election. But the grumbling is getting louder. Now a statement from an ancient is making people sit up and take notice.
Former SPD chairman Franz Müntefering is calling for an open debate about the SPD’s candidacy for chancellor. “The candidacy for chancellor is not a game that two or more candidates agree to over beer or breakfast in the evening or that includes a prerogative to be re-elected,” the former vice chancellor told the Berlin “Tagesspiegel”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already made it clear that he would like to run again in the early federal elections. However, there are now more and more voices in the SPD who, in view of the Chancellor’s poor poll numbers, are calling for Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to run as a candidate, who has significantly higher approval ratings.
Müntefering emphasized that the election of a candidate for chancellor must take place at an SPD party conference. “Of course, opposing candidacies within one’s own party are fundamentally possible and are not a sign of helplessness. They are democracy in practice,” said the 84-year-old. Given the time constraints for all deadlines and for the election campaign, quick action is necessary. “The SPD can show that democracy can do everything.”
The voice of Müntefering, who comes from the influential SPD district of Western Westphalia, still has weight in the party. The Sauerlander was SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag from 2002 to 2005, and party chairman from March 2004 to November 2005 and from October 2008 to November 2009. In 2005 he led the SPD as a junior partner in the first grand coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
Klingbeil calls for debate about content instead of personnel
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, however, warns his party against a debate about Scholz’s candidacy for chancellor. “Olaf Scholz is the Chancellor. And everyone who bears responsibility in the SPD has made it clear in the last few days that we stand behind him,” said Klingbeil on Saturday in Essen. It is now important for the SPD “that we deal with the content of the federal election campaign, but not discuss personnel.”
After the breakup of the coalition, the SPD no longer has much time to nominate its candidate for chancellor. The election is scheduled for February 23rd – and the campaigns are usually very tailored to the candidate. A decision from the party leadership is expected at a so-called election victory conference on November 30th. A party conference is scheduled for January 11th, at which the personnel could then be confirmed.
dpa
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.
