SPD elects new party leadership at party conference in Bremen in mid-January

After Bärbel Bas's resignation, the SPD is debating whether to appoint a new party chairman. Several names are circulating, but there have been no official applications yet. But what there is now: a date for the party conference. As the ARD capital studio learned from party circles, the SPD federal party conference is scheduled to take place in Bremen on January 16th and 17th. The entire party executive committee will be re-elected there.

Will Klingbeil compete again?

After Bas' resignation on Monday, the SPD presidium voted unanimously in favor of a new election for the entire leadership at the suggestion of party leader Lars Klingbeil. Klingbeil himself is keeping it open whether he will run again.

The Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister is no longer unchallenged in the party. At the last party conference he was only re-elected with a disappointing result of 64.9 percent, while Bas received a very good result with 95.0 percent. Those dissatisfied with the government's course blame Klingbeil rather than Bas for compromises in the black-red coalition. “I know what criticism there is,” Klingbeil recently said on ZDF. He confirmed in ARD interviews that he was not committed to his position.

No jostling for the leadership position

Klingbeil would like to stick to the principle of dual leadership. Candidates for the top spot alongside Klingbeil have not yet pushed their way forward. On the contrary: Saarland's Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger definitely canceled, simply because she has to face a state election in 2027. Manuela Schwesig has just completed the election somewhat successfully - and is now working on a three-party coalition. She is considered eloquent and aggressive, but according to her own statements she is not drawn to the top of the SPD.

Separation of offices and a new start?

Both Klingbeil and Bas were or are party leaders and federal ministers at the same time. In the course of the planned new election of the SPD leadership, there is again a discussion about the separation of these offices.

Juso leader Philipp Türmer sees the party conference as an opportunity for a new start for the SPD. This “finally lays the foundation for us to be able to hold all discussions about the future of the SPD with the breadth of the party,” Türmer told the newspapers of the Germany editorial network. "We need a plan and ideas for the future again - and people who can credibly support this."

The SPD still has a lot to discuss until mid-January - about personnel and content.