Foreign policy: “Refusal of reality”: SPD argues on disarmament paper

It is an attack on the black-red federal government and on its own party leadership around Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil: Prominent SPD members are calling for a depression policy and direct diplomatic discussions with Russia in a “manifest”. SPD top politicians immediately go to the parade: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks of “refusal to realize reality”.

In her basic paper, which is available to the German Press Agency and which the “Stern” first reported, the so-called SPD peace circles penetrate for a U-turn in foreign and security policy. Europe is currently far away from a stable peace and security order, they complain and advertise for de-escalation and gradual trust formation instead of arms.

The disarmament paper is signed by ex-parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, ex-party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, foreign politician Ralf Stegner as well as individual members of the Bundestag and state parliament. It is not clear whether all of the more than 100 signatures of SPD members come.

The “manifest” will also be explosive through the time of publication: Before the party congress at the end of the month, it should cause unrest in the SPD. Then the Social Democrats not only want to elect their top, but also start the process for a new party program after the debacle in the Bundestag election. Shortly before, the NATO summit is pending, which will be a significant increase in defense spending.

Diplomatic contacts with Russia required

The signatories demand “to get back into conversation with Russia after the silence of the weapons, also about a peace and security order for Europe worn and respected by all”. A careful resumption of diplomatic contacts is already necessary before real confidence -building measures.

It is not mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far not been interested in such an armistice. Nor did the consequences of the then Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Putin in November. Or that he recently showed how little he thinks of diplomatic mediation attempts by US President Donald Trump, among others.

Warning of “military alarm rhetoric”

The SPD peace circles also turn against stationing new American medium-range missiles in Germany and against increasing the defense budget to 3.5 or 5 percent of gross domestic product. They complain that a “constraint for more and more armaments and preparation for an allegedly threatening war” are being conjured up “instead of linking defense ability with armaments control and disarmament policy.

Politicians from other parties were horrified: “When is it understood that Russia does not want to negotiate and no peace,” wrote the Union foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter on X. Green Group leader Britta Haßelmann emphasized: “We all wish for peace, and nobody longs for the people in Ukraine. Unfortunately, all attempts to achieve a ceasefire or peace. Run and rejected by President Putin. ” The paper of the SPD politicians fades out serious realities and does not do justice to the true threat.

Pistorius keeps it sharply

The very harsh reactions show that the “manifest” does not reflect the attitude of the entire SPD. Pistorius told the German Press Agency: “It abuses the people’s wish in our country after the terrible war in Ukraine. After peace.” Russia does not want peace, and if only in its own conditions. “With this Putin we can only negotiate from a position of strength.” Your own defense ability is necessary.

Group leader Matthias Miersch also distanced himself: the paper was a contribution to debate, he told the Editorial Network Germany. “This is legitimate, even if I expressly do not share the central basic assumptions.” Miersch said: “Of course, diplomacy remains the top priority. But we also have to say honestly: Many offers of talk – also by Chancellor Olaf Scholz – have been laid out. Wladimir Putin has not been talking to him so far.”

Former MP Fritz Felgenreu commented on X: “The last social democratic protagonists of a failed policy and former protagonists who stand behind them conjure up the magic formulas of 1982 – which can have an effect in a year -old party.” In fact, among the signatories are strikingly few young politicians. The attitude has been known for years, such as Mützenich and Stegner, for example.

How does party leader Klingbeil position himself?

The SPD has long been struggling to deal with its Russian policy. The debate at the party conference is eagerly awaited – because even in the new party program, the Social Democrats are likely to position themselves on the subject.

The FDP-European politician Marie-Egnes Strack-Zimmermann called for an immediate explanation of the SPD leadership: “The silence of Lars Klingbeil and Matthias Miersch to” Manifest “is deafening booming,” she criticized on X, before Miersch had expressed. ” If she does not do this, the Federal Chancellor should already think about the question of trust in the Bundestag. “