K-Question in the SPD: Continued deadlock on the K-Question in the SPD

A good three months before the planned new Bundestag elections, it is still unclear who will lead the ruling SPD in the election campaign. No news emerged from a switching conference of the SPD leadership that evening. Several TV interviews by Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the end of the G20 summit did not provide any clarity. Scholz repeatedly emphasized the support of the party leadership for him and emphasized the unity of his party. The Chancellor is expected back in Berlin this morning.

The SPD is debating whether it would do better with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is popular in polls, as its candidate for chancellor than with Scholz. The Chancellor’s Party is at the bottom of the polls; at 15 to 16 percent, it is only about half as strong as the opposition Union. In the past few days, supporters of Scholz have spoken out, as have politicians who advise switching to Pistorius. There were repeated calls for the issue to be decided quickly.

No white noise on the K question after deliberations by the party leadership

While Scholz was still in Rio, the party leadership discussed the election campaign in Berlin. No news reached the outside world afterwards. It was one of the regular meetings in preparation for the federal election and the upcoming party conference, it was said in the Willy Brandt House. Scholz himself should not be involved either. The Chancellor spoke on ARD about a routine meeting to prepare for the election and not about what was being speculated about.

At the end of the G20 meeting, Scholz gave five television interviews after his press conference, most of which revolved around the K question in his party. “The SPD and I want to win together,” emphasized the Chancellor in the ARD and other interviews. At ProSieben/Sat.1 newstime, Scholz emphasized: “I can’t complain about the support of the party leadership. They made themselves very clear and answered the question you just asked very clearly.” On ZDFheute live he explained: “I also feel very clearly supported. I don’t feel alone.”

At the same time, the Chancellor was confident that the candidate issue would not tear the party apart. “You will experience again that the SPD is closed as a shop,” said Scholz on Welt TV. On ZDF he emphasized: “Don’t get your hopes up, the SPD stands together.”

Pistorius: Answer can quickly become obsolete

Defense Minister Pistorius said on Monday at an event organized by the Bavaria media group in Passau that becoming chancellor was not part of his life plans, but at the same time declared: “In politics you should never rule out anything, no matter what it is about.” In a later interview with the Bavaria media group, Pistorius answered “yes” when asked whether he believed that Scholz would remain in the running as the next candidate for chancellor. But would he be ready if it didn’t stay that way? “As a general rule, I don’t answer hypothetical questions because an answer I give today may be invalid the day after tomorrow,” said Pistorius. Scholz, for his part, said on Welt TV about his defense minister: “I am very sure of his loyalty.”

Will no to Taurus delivery become an election campaign issue?

In the interviews, Scholz also referred to two topic areas with which the SPD wants to score points in the election campaign. It’s about more security by strengthening the Bundeswehr, supporting Ukraine and internal security on the one hand, but also social issues such as pensions, health and care as well as the modernization of the infrastructure should not be neglected, Scholz made it clear on RTL/ntv. The SPD will not take part in an either/or here, the Chancellor also emphasized on ProSieben Sat.1.

And Scholz’s refusal to deliver long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine could also have an impact on the election campaign. “It is not an element of the election campaign, but it is a question that will be decided in the election as to whether a course of prudence will be continued,” said Scholz on ARD. He made a similar statement on Welt TV: “This is of course something that citizens will think about when elections are held soon, whether the course of decisive support, but also of prudence, that I stand for and that is also connects with the SPD, can be continued or not.”