The SPD needs to see a psychoanalyst

The SPD is looking for new party leaders. Once again. Long gone are the times when social democracy rested within itself and relied on stability. August Bebel was at the head of the Social Democrats for 21 years - in times of severe crisis. Willy Brandt even led his party for 23 years.

Since Gerhard Schröder's departure, however, the bosses have sometimes even changed every year. After Schröder came Franz Müntefering, after Müntefering came Matthias Platzeck, after Platzeck Kurt Beck, after Beck again Müntefering, after this Sigmar Gabriel, after Gabriel Martin Schulz, after Schulz Andrea Nahles, after Nahles Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken, after the two Lars Klingbeil and Bärbel Bas.

Does it dawn on the comrades that they have already gone through all the characters? What characteristic is still missing that will lead to success with the voters? Whoever has been at the helm of the SPD since Schröder – the Social Democrats have neither gained momentum nor regained their self-confidence. She didn't discover the meaning and goal of her actions among any of them, ignoring the usual SPD word montages.

If the party were human and its leaders were their significant others, any outsider who heard of the masses would be concerned to consult a psychoanalyst. Even the stupidest kitchen psychologist would know: It's not your partner, it's yourself! Whether in the opposition or in the government, the SPD always reminds us of Schubert's Wanderer: “Where you are not, that is where happiness is.”

The new hope Manuela Schwesig will commit the SPD to a left-wing course. She may then be the last chairwoman of a once proud and vibrant party.