SPD debacle: Then party leader Klingbeil makes a declaration of war

Now it really happens, that has to be the moment when Willy Brandt’s statue is stunned by the Berlin party headquarters.

Almost 16 percent, it indicates the miserable red bar, which at 6 p.m. allows all fears in the SPD. Incredible, almost shocked, the comrades stare at their historically worst result in a federal election. Chancellor party: over. It is a crashing defeat. And now?

A new era begins for the SPD, in the Willy-Brandt-Haus there should be tectonic shifts. The party leader Lars Klingbeil speaks of “upheavals” that are necessary of a “generation change” that must now be initiated. He says: “This result is a turning point.” Rumms.

It is an undisguised declaration of war by the party leader who is now trying to get on the offensive – after all, the disaster goes on his cap.

The clear words are therefore not only aimed at Friedrich Merz, the next chancellor. Klingbeil also addresses the SPD – and dares to test the power. Late Sunday evening it becomes known: Klingbeil is also to become parliamentary group leader.

The SPD is now facing many uncertainties, at least that is clear quickly. Because anything but clear is shortly after 6 p.m.: What does that mean?

When the forecasts flicker about the screens, a murmur goes through the SPD headquarters-not because of their own result, but because of the yellow and purple beams from FDP and BSW. At that time, both scratch the five percent hurdle for a possible (re) moving into the Bundestag.

That would complicate a government formation enormously, sweep a coalition of two parties off the table – and probably also stable conditions. While the blue bar of the AfD has grown to a whopping 20 percent.

Catastrophe, chaos: These are the keywords that fall with comrades in a quick SMS change. The situation is confusing, and the party leadership also has to sort out. According to the first extrapolation, nothing works without the SPD – but where does the trip go? And who pretends the direction of march?

The SPD leadership only entered the Atrium at 6.40 p.m., the other parties have long since publicly classified the results. Damped applause, no cheers, sluggish hands. Olaf Scholz, the chosen Chancellor, goes on stage with his wife Britta Ernst, framed by the SPD chairman Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil.

“Thank you,” says Scholz, speaks of a “bitter” result. After this defeat, it was important to go forward together. He clutches the microphone with both hands, as if he was holding on to it. He also bears responsibility for the result, explains Scholz, but does not admit any mistakes. “I will exercise this position until the last day.” On the edge of the stage there are Boris Pistorius, the Minister of Defense, and Hubertus Heil, the Minister of Labor, with frozen faces.

If he could wish for one, Scholz still says: “It should remain a closed SPD.”

This is extremely unlikely after this memorable evening.

Because behind the scenes, the party had long thought about a time to Scholz and defined corridors to narrow down the severity of the earthquake. Everything below 20.5 percent, the previous Bundestag election, from 2017, was considered a disaster. Everything below 15 percent, i.e. near the European election result, as a catastrophe. The SPD has now come out at around 16 percent. Who is to blame? And how urgently is this question asked?

“This result will require upheavals in the SPD,” says party leader Klingbeil. After the election victory of 2021, which he had a significant responsibility, he had announced a social democratic decade. Now it comes to an inglorious end after only three and a half years.

Klingbeil, who had stood behind the unpopular chancellor as a candidate, should also be blamed. In order to send Boris Pistorius into the race, as large parts of the base had wanted, Klingbeil should have replaced his own chancellor in the middle of the election campaign. But it is of no use: Klingbeil will also have to explain.

“I’m sorry that it has not become different,” says the party leader about the bad result. And addressed to the campaigners: “It wasn’t up to you.” Self -criticism to counter the expected criticism. Then the SPD boss will basically become.

The party must position itself organizationally, programmatically and also in terms of personnel. Klingbeil, now combative: “I say with absolute clarity: The generation change in the SPD must be initiated.” One would like to know what Boris Pistorius, 64, think about Lars Klingbeil, 46.

The message is clear: Klingbeil wants to continue specifying the course of the SPD. To a new government, possibly even as a minister and even vice chancellor? “You can take responsibility in a government, but also in an opposition,” says the party leader. This is aimed at election winner Merz: An alliance with the SPD would have its price.

On Sunday evening, the parliamentary group members of the SPD reached a letter from its chairman, Rolf Mützenich. “Wherever I could, I tried to improve things with stability and attitude and stop it back step backwards,” he writes to his comrades. The letter lies that star before. Nevertheless, he had to recognize where his limits “and the external circumstances”. Mützenich: “Today we came to the conclusion in the party leadership that it is good when younger people move on to the carts and the forces are bundled.” Lars Klingbeil, the SPD leader, is therefore unanimously proposed for the parliamentary group leader. On Monday, the incumbent parliamentary board should be on the staff proposal and suggested to Klingbeil for the election on Wednesday.

The SPD boss would gain weight with the double function, especially if he had entered into possible negotiations on a coalition. This could still ensure controversy among the comrades, after all, Klingbeil is also attributed to a share in the election result.

His time as the group leader is coming to an end, writes Mützenich. “And if my work could help give the faction’s face and voice, then I am deeply grateful:”

Olaf Scholz waves to say goodbye, tries a smile when he is accompanied by applause from the stage. Leading Social Democrats give the first television interviews, the atrium emphasizes. Then at around 8 p.m. there is a jubilation at the party headquarters: the ARD high bill is now seeing both the FDP and BSW under the five percent hurdle. This would make a grand coalition possible – with the former Chancellor Party SPD as a junior partner. It is the only cheering moment on this memorable evening. In turn, the ZDF numbers see the BSW in the Bundestag, which would exclude a GroKo.

The disoriented social democrats can now use any quiet glimmer of hope.