Enlarge image
Norbert Walter-Borjans Lars Klingbeil, Saskia Esken (from left): "Alpha animal behavior is an obsolete model"
Photo:
Kay Nietfeld / picture alliance / dpa
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 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'll make a good proposal to the party."
A preliminary decision on party presidency should be made on Monday
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.
The SPD is expected to make a preliminary decision on the party chairmanship next Monday.
The party executive would then decide on a personnel proposal for the dual leadership, the news agency Reuters learned from party circles.
This was agreed in a switching conference of the board on Tuesday.
In an interview with the editorial network Germany, Walter-Borjans pointed out that the SPD now has a “much more open and respectful” culture of debate 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 was "not only due to one candidate and two chairpersons, but also to the willingness that everyone takes a step back."
The new election of the party leadership is due to take place at a regular federal party conference on the second weekend in December.
Co-party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans does not run again.
The 43-year-old Klingbeil is considered a pragmatist, but also maintains a close relationship of trust with left-wing parties such as party chief Kevin Kühnert.
Several representatives of the SPD leadership had told Reuters that they were firmly assuming that Klingbeil would be a candidate.
muk / dpa / Reuters
