Party leader at Ruhr-SPD: Klingbeil: Fighting hard for compromises with the Union

Bochum. SPD leader and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil appeals for understanding in view of the broad criticism of the black-red coalition by the party base in the Ruhr area. If, for example, Economics Minister Katharina Reiche (CDU) presents a draft for a fuel price cap that does not work, the SPD must say so so that oil companies do not enrich themselves, emphasized the Vice Chancellor at a members' convention of the Ruhr SPD in Bochum.

The coalition has to get the big issues of pensions, health and care together; compromises are being fought hard. But: “There are situations where there is so much going on that you have to argue,” says Klingbeil. The welfare state and the affordability of life are central to him. The SPD wants to convince the Union that a ban on the AfD should now be introduced. But it is also clear that the SPD is the smaller coalition partner.

Klingbeil admitted self-critically: “We need an idea of ​​the future of the country.” As SPD chairman, he is partly responsible for this. The base can criticize him harshly and doesn't need to mince words. With only 14 percent approval for the SPD currently in surveys, it would be fatal if the SPD did not look critically at itself, said Klingbeil.

The chairman of the Ruhr SPD, Martin Murrack, had previously criticized the black-red federal government for “uncoordinated bickering” and “open disputes”. People are annoyed by this and want solutions to their problems, said Murrack at the convention, which has the motto “The Ruhr area speaks plain language”.