With Olaf Scholz, the SPD has chosen an old-school candidate for chancellor. Nevertheless, a changing of the guard seems to be approaching in Berlin - with unpleasant accompanying noises from outside.
- The SPD is deeply in a crisis - the survey figures are partly devastating.
- There was also some bitter criticism for the nomination of Finance Minister Olaf Scholz as candidate for chancellor.
- But the younger generation of the party is also pushing into the foreground - they could thwart the plans of a country leader.
Berlin - The SPD narrowly - measured by the claim of a people's party and that of the proud "oldest party in Germany" - for years at the parliamentary subsistence level: since 2005 it has not broken the 30 percent mark in federal elections, the latest surveys put the Social Democrats at plus-minus 15 Percent. There are questions of direction.
It is no coincidence that the nomination of comrade Olaf Scholz, who had already risen in the Schröder era , as candidate for chancellor on Monday sparked debate. Party leader Saskia Esken seemed to apologize for the election. But while the party remains conservative at this point, a massive upheaval seems to be looming elsewhere: the location is, of all things, the federal capital Berlin.
SPD: First Kühnert, then Chebli - Berlin Prime Minister Müller could face an ugly exit
There the (still) governing mayor Michael Müller wants to move into the Bundestag in 2021 . But it is not easy for the head of government. A new generation of parties is contesting his constituency - twice. Quite spicy: some of the competition comes from Müller's own government.
At first it was probably Noch-Juso boss and party hopeful Kevin Kühnert who ousted Müller. Kühnert also wants to move into the Bundestag. In the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district , of all places, where Müller has lived for a long time. The mayor is moving to the rather sedate district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf , which he had only announced on Monday. But there, too, he is threatened with a candidate for a fight against an already prominent young politician.
Sawsan Chebli: Arguable politician wants to go to the Bundestag - hatred on social networks follows
Because the Berlin State Secretary Sawsan Chebli competes against Müller. "My father fled to Germany from a Lebanese refugee camp so that his children could have prospects," wrote Chebli on Thursday on Twitter. She is now available to the SPD and her home country as a candidate for election in autumn 2021.
My father fled a Lebanese refugee camp to 🇩🇪 so that his children could have a future. Today I am State Secretary u. now stand the SPD u. in my home town of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf as a candidate for election to the next Bundestag.
- Sawsan Chebli (@SawsanChebli) August 14, 2020Chebli certainly pays chances. “I was asked why I was doing this to myself,” added Chebli, hinting at Müller's intended candidacy in the same constituency . She is sure that she can reach people. You hope
for a competition that strengthens cohesion instead of dividing, she also told the dpa .
The announcement of the candidacy had some extremely unpleasant effects on social media : In addition to criticism of her earlier work as spokesperson for the Foreign Office and references to her “Rolex Shitstorm”, there was also personal hostility towards Chebli - often with indirect reference to gender and migration background the politician. The SPD politician complained on Twitter of "insults" by "their haters" - but urged their supporters to moderate. The hashtag #Chebli was part of the Twitter trends at times.
SPD: Changing of the guard in Berlin - Giffey could switch back to state politics
The 42-year-old Chebli has been State Secretary for Civic Engagement in Müller's Senate Chancellery since the end of 2016. Before that, she was deputy spokesperson in the Federal Foreign Office. This is not the first time that Chebli has encountered hatred in social networks. At the beginning of 2020, however, she failed with a lawsuit against a Youtuber.
It has long been known that Müller intends to hand over his office as SPD state party leader to Family Minister Franziska Giffey and the Berlin parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh at a state party conference at the end of October . Presumably, the change for Giffey is also associated with a top candidacy for the House of Representatives election in autumn 2021 - at the same time, a well-known politician will probably disappear from the federal political stage. ( fn / AFP / dpa )