Ideas of Mr. Klüssendorf:
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) under its current leadership is navigating significant internal and external challenges, shaping its key ideas, aims, and approaches to restructuring across content, organisation, and communication.
In terms of content, the SPD is focusing on balancing its defence policy, economic transformation, and environmental transformation. On defence, there is marked internal division over rearmament and relations with Russia. While some party members advocate for de-escalation and gradual re-engagement with Russia, others argue for increased defence spending as part of a broader strategy aimed at peace and restoring trust.
Economically, the SPD is emphasising the transformation of the economy towards innovation, digitalisation, and green technologies. This includes significant investments in future technologies, support for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and a commitment to climate neutrality by 2045, which is now constitutionally enshrined. Economic subsidies are increasingly focused on CO₂ avoidance and social equity.
Organisationally, the SPD is facing internal tensions, particularly on issues of rearmament and international strategy. The party is under pressure to reflect the diversity of views within its membership and ensure that major policy decisions are communicated transparently to the base. Externally, the SPD works within a broader coalition government, which influences its policy focus and requires ongoing negotiation and adaptation to the goals of its coalition partners.
Communicatively, the SPD is being criticised for making unilateral decisions on defence spending without full consultation of party members. The leadership is being urged to do more to ensure that major policy decisions reflect the majority view and are communicated transparently to the base. The party leadership is also expected to engage more openly with members and the public, explaining policy choices and fostering trust.
Herr Klüssendorf, the general secretary of the SPD, views the party as a real reform party with concrete ideas for a fairer society. He wants the party to be understood as a movement again and aims to involve allies such as trade unions, associations, and citizens more strongly. Compromises are necessary in a democracy, but emphasising the SPD's profile more strongly is crucial.
The SPD is undergoing personnel changes in the government and faction since the federal election. A new basic program is being developed for the SPD, with a draft to be presented at the federal party conference in 2027. The new party leadership is seen as complete after the conference this weekend.
The SPD party is holding a conference with the motto "Change starts with us" to restructure content, organisation, and communication. The goal of the SPD is to achieve better election results on all levels in the future. Precise communication is important during the development of the new basic program.
Notable figures such as Barbara Bas, Matthias Miersch, and Herr Klüssendorf may set the tone for the left wing of the SPD in the future. Herr Klüssendorf believes that the SPD must address the contradictions of the current time, including wealth growth not benefiting many people and feelings of loneliness and abandonment despite digital connectivity.
In summary, the SPD's challenge is to reconcile internal divisions, maintain a clear policy direction, and present a unified, responsive face to the public—balancing leadership decisiveness with inclusive, transparent processes. The party aims to lead the SPD to new strength and achieve better election results on all levels in the future.
The SPD is focusing on policy-and-legislation in terms of economic transformation, emphasizing investments in innovation, digitalization, and green technologies, while also addressing internal divisions over rearmament and international strategy (politics). The party is undergoing a major restructuring, developing a new basic program and stressing the importance of precise communication in its attempt to achieve better election results (general-news).
