Thursday, November 4th, 2021
“Will make good suggestion”
Walter-Borjans campaigns for Klingbeil
Parallel to the formation of a government, the SPD must also clarify the leadership issue. Who forms the new dual leadership in the party? The outgoing co-chairman Walter-Borjans supports the idea that General Secretary Lars Klingbeil will be his successor.
The outgoing SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans considers General Secretary Lars Klingbeil to be a suitable candidate for the party chairmanship. When asked whether he could imagine Klingbeil as the new party leader, Walter-Borjans told the editorial network in Germany: “Of course I can. Saskia Esken and I work closely with Lars Klingbeil.” All options and all pending questions will be discussed together in the party leadership. “Then we will make a good proposal to the party.”
Esken shares the chairmanship with Walter-Borjans. After his withdrawal announcement, parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich asked her to resign if she wanted to become minister of a new government of the SPD, Greens and FDP. Esken wants to make a decision by Monday and then submit a proposal for the further procedure with Walter-Borjans.
Walter-Borjans pointed out in the interview that there is now a “much more open and respectful” culture of debate in the SPD than it used to be. “Alpha animal behavior is a thing of the past. It should stay that way,” he said. The party’s electoral success is “not only due to one candidate (Olaf Scholz) and two chairmen, but also to the willingness that everyone withdraws from time to time”.
Secretary General Klingbeil was open to becoming SPD leader without specifically announcing an application. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig is also considered a possible candidate. It cannot be ruled out that applicants who have not already been traded may also register.
Klingbeil told the editorial network in Germany that he was very honored that his name was used for the role of the SPD chairman. “The chairmanship is a very important, traditional and attractive office in which you can achieve a lot,” said Klingbeil when asked whether it would be more attractive for him to become party leader or to take on a ministerial office. Klingbeil also made a similar statement to the hearing on Tuesday evening in the management bodies of the SPD.