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SPD leader Lars Klingbeil
Photo: Fabian Sommer / dpa
They were unusual tones for a social democrat.
At an event organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation in Berlin, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil gave a keynote address on Tuesday.
His demands: more respect for soldiers, Germany's "claim to be a leading power," the acceptance of "military force" as a political means.
But the attempt to prescribe a new foreign policy course for the SPD has not gone down well, especially in the left wing of the party.
"To speak of a 'leading power' that Germany should take over," she believes, "is a completely wrong understanding of the German role," said Juso boss and member of the Bundestag Jessica Rosenthal to SPIEGEL.
Eye level with the partners must be part of the self-image, according to Rosenthal - »precisely because we have learned and must learn from our history«.
A social-democratic turning point is also more than a focus on the military.
Changing times need social security right now - nationally and internationally.
»The SPD must continue to stand up for peace, rely on diplomacy and international understanding as well as strengthen prospects for disarmament in the long term.
I really missed this social-democratic understanding of the turning point.«
The head of the left-wing SPD grouping Forum Demokratische Linke 21 (DL 21), Sebastian Roloff, is also distancing himself from the party chairman.
»Such theses must be discussed in the party.
The top cannot decide that alone, it needs a program decision," Roloff told SPIEGEL.
"If there is talk of a leading German power or the legitimacy of military force, I definitely see a great need for discussion."
Klingbeil's announcements had already caused irritation among comrades on Monday.
»Germany must set a good example: diplomatically, humanitarianly and in terms of economic aid.
In my opinion and based on our history, however, Germany should not assume a military leadership role," said party leftist Ralf Stegner.
Shortly after Klingbeil's speech, Katja Mast, First Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group, also spoke up.
"Even if we see the defense capability of the armed forces moving more into the focus of international politics in the future," said Mast, "we should be careful not to view the turning point from a purely military point of view."
Young party members in particular were outraged on social networks.
"I think the phrase 'leading power' is fundamentally wrong," wrote Philipp Türmer, deputy head of the Juso federal government, on Twitter.
Another Juso deputy, Johannes Barsch, accused Klingbeil of "crossing borders" that were "unacceptable".
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