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Russian President Putin: The Social Democrats are struggling to find the right course
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In the face of controversial debates within the party, the SPD wants to clarify how it will deal with Russia in the future.
According to SPIEGEL information, party leader Lars Klingbeil has called a meeting with leading social democrats for Monday.
In addition to foreign politicians and prime ministers, parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, the chairman of the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation, Martin Schulz, as well as defense minister Christine Lambrecht and development aid minister Svenja Schulze have also been invited.
For Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the head of the Chancellery, Wolfgang Schmidt, is to take part.
The aim of the meeting is said to be to reconcile the two inner-party camps in the Russia debate and thus end a conflict that has been a burden on the party for years.
Most recently, there was again a public dispute in the SPD about the relationship with Moscow.
In view of the Ukraine conflict, pragmatists called for more toughness towards Russia, while representatives of the left wing of the party called for a continuation of the classic policy of detente.
The meeting should also be the prelude to further appointments to develop the principles of a new European Ostpolitik.
Klingbeil, who is responsible for foreign policy at the top of the party, based the format on two retreats that former party leader Andrea Nahles called after internal controversies in social and refugee policy.
In recent weeks, Russia policy has arrived in the midst of party disputes.
On Thursday, the Bundestag discussed the course the federal government took in the crisis with Russia.
Friedrich Merz, who was elected CDU chairman at the weekend, accused Chancellor Scholz of leadership weakness.
Klingbeil, who also spoke in the plenary session, then warned Merz against misusing foreign policy to raise his profile in the opposition.
Klingbeil strictly refused arms deliveries to the Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Merz announced that the CDU would also reposition itself in relation to Russia.
"In view of the worsening situation, we have to fundamentally re-pose some foreign policy questions," said the CDU politician in an interview with several European newspapers.
»What is the CDU's position on Russia?
We need more clarity on that.«