Contemplating Splitting the Social Democratic Party?
By Stella Sullivan
Berlin's grapevine is buzzing with a scandalous story: Is Raed Saleh (48), SPD faction leader, plotting a power play against Mayor Kai Wegner (52, CDU)? It's been whispered for weeks among the city's political bigwigs, but there's no concrete evidence to back these claims.
Saleh allegedly aims to dismantle the current black-red coalition and seize power through the parliament, a scheme reminiscent of a political thriller. Faction members, state executives, and senators talk of Saleh's supposed ambitions.
A Political Tug of War
This tantalizing tale has all the intrigue of a political thriller: If true, Saleh would shatter the coalition with the CDU post-summer break with a tenuous pretext before forging an alliance with the Greens and Left in the House of Representatives. They'd elect him their new governing mayor.
Critics scoff at this scenario, calling it "sheer madness," with one powerful comrade telling B.Z.: "A delusional idea." Another SPD functionary agrees: "An absolute chaos scenario! Even if it succeeded, Saleh would only be in office for a year until the regular election – and would then disappear into absolute oblivion!" The SPD might plummet to under 10%.
But could Saleh be behind this rumor, trying to put pressure on the CDU with a show of force? Some argue that, having lost the state chairman role, he's resorting to "muscle plays" to get attention.
Obstacles to a Swift Overthrow
If Saleh wanted to force a basic change in the government scheme, a lengthy process awaits him. A new coalition agreement would require painstaking discussions, which could take months. Additionally, the Greens might simply support Wegner and subsequently ally with the CDU themselves.
Yet another hurdle lies in filling the Senate positions during the transitory period. Elections are scheduled for September 20, 2026, making finding interim replacements difficult. And the SPD's top contender for these elections is still undecided.
Some believe Saleh is using this rumor to stir up controversy and boost his chances, an indication of desperation rather than a realistic political strategy.
When B.Z. reached out to Saleh for comment on the rumors and their origin, Torsten Schneider (56), parliamentary business manager, responded for him: "The claims are outlandish."
The two state chairpersons, Nicola Böcker-Giannini (50) and Martin Hikel (39), echoed this sentiment to B.Z.: "This coalition promises stability and still has substantial tasks ahead that we're committed to tackling together. That's a promise to Berlin we want to honor."
- The scandalous story circling Berlin's political scene involving Raed Saleh and a potential power play against Mayor Kai Wegner falls under the category of 'general-news' and 'politics'.
- The proposed power shift in Berlin's government, if executed, could signify a change in 'policy-and-legislation' considering Saleh's alleged plan to topple the current black-red coalition and form a new one with the Greens and Left in the House of Representatives.
