Juso boss Kevin Kühnert tries to influence the currently running regional conferences of the SPD with a kind of direction statement.
To kick off the search for a new party leadership Kühnert sent an e-mail to leading Juso officials with "suggestions for possible questions". In the linked document can be found under the heading "Be loud for a left SPD!" nine sample questions with which Jusos should shape the discussion from the audience.
Thematically, the questions are likely to put more conservative candidates under pressure and more likely to provide templates to left-leaning candidates. The spectrum ranges from possible coalitions over arms exports to "rescue of the sea". One question is whether the black zero can be "maintained" in view of the climate crisis.
Candidate for party presidency
In fact, Jusos repeatedly asked similar questions at previous conferences. In the candidate field, the action causes irritation, especially because Juso CEO Kühnert has early declared his support for the duo from ex-NRW Finance Minister Norbert Walter-Borjans and the member of parliament Saskia Esken.
About this determination there are in parts of the SPD amazement, as with the Jusos. There are other preferences among them. However, the Juso Federal Executive this week behind Kühnert and decided unanimously to support the application of his favorites.
Kühnert himself made public his mail to the Juso officials on Friday after the media had inquired about it.
Great excitement today on the phone of our @ jusos press office: Did the #Jusos recommend their members, for example, to ask the candidates for the @spdde party chairmanship how to position themselves on important juso demands?
Spoiler: Yes, they have!
Kühnert defended the formulation of the model questions. The Juso board was "chosen to publicize and promote the positions of our association." The questions were based on "crystal clear decisions of our committees".
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