What will follow the Merkel era? The listing of Olaf Scholz as candidate for chancellor sparked the debate about a possible common alliance among the SPD and the left.
Berlin (dpa) - SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz has expressed doubts about the ability of the left to govern in the federal government. But the leadership of the Left Party also stressed hurdles on Thursday before a possible coalition of the two parties after the general election in a year or more.
The Vice-Chancellor said on Wednesday evening in the ARD program "Maischberger - Die Woche" when asked whether he considered the left to be capable of governing: "I think there are still many questions." There will be a lot to discuss. "I wish you a good job," said Scholz. "Whoever wants to govern must also be capable of governing." Everyone would still have a lot to do before the election.
Left boss Katja Kipping reacted cautiously. "I am glad that we are over hasty exclusivity and open to constructive discussions," she said of the "Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft" (Friday). "Olaf Scholz is right that there is a lot of need to talk between our parties when a government is formed." The left also had critical questions for the SPD.
In surveys, the SPD is currently at 14 to 18 percent, the Left at 6 to 9. The Greens, who are considered to be possible further coalition partners, are at 15 to 21 percent.
Left faction leader Dietmar Bartsch called it on Twitter "indicative" that Scholz had no doubts about the governmental ability of Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU), Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and Education Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) - but on the left. The party chairman Bernd Riexinger told the "Hessischen / Niedersächsischen Allgemeine" (HNA): "The question is whether Olaf Scholz wants a change of direction in politics and can inspire it." He sees similarities with the SPD. "I do believe that Scholz can be Chancellor."
SPD leader Saskia Esken told the magazine "Bunte": "After Merkel there is new potential. And Olaf is definitely a real social democrat. Olaf has the chancellor boom."
The SPD Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, told the German Press Agency: "After the members voted for the chairmanship, the disputes in the SPD have ceased." There is a constructive mood and great unity in the party. The SPD continued to develop programmatically. "That was already laid out under Andrea Nahles and will now be continued."
Esken and SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans prevailed against Scholz in the race for chairmanship in a membership decision in 2019. Walter-Borjans ruled out that Scholz would become party chairman. "For Olaf Scholz, Saskia Esken and me one thing is certain: Olaf Scholz should become Chancellor - in close collaboration with those who are now at the top of the party," he told the "Augsburger Allgemeine" (Thursday).
A narrow majority of the SPD voters see Scholz's nomination as positive. 52 percent of those who voted for the SPD in the last federal election see it as an improvement in the SPD's chances in the election campaign. Voters from the Greens (42 percent), the Union (41 percent) and the FDP (40 percent) also see the opportunities for the SPD improved by Scholz's nomination. Among the left voters, 30 percent see better, 32 percent worse chances.
The board and presidium of the SPD had unanimously nominated Scholz as chancellor candidate for the federal election in 2021 on Monday. Confirmation at a party congress is no longer necessary. The SPD is the first party represented in the Bundestag with a candidate for chancellor for the autumn 2021 election.
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