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Basis in NRW objects to Klingbeil's proposal: "This action is unacceptable" - NRW fundamental departs with Klingbeil: "This is disgraceful" (Paraphrased)
SPD’s federal head honcho and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil faced a brutal lashing at his first state party conference post-federal government kickoff. At the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) SPD shindig in Duisburg, young guns, particularly, blasted him for ideological vagueness and office hoarding while savaging his co-chair Saskia Esken in a debate.
Klingbeil launched the conference in the old-school "working-class city" with a sweeping manifesto and a plea for unity and camaraderie. Addressing the sternly skeptical NRW association, which had already delivered a merciless analysis of the SPD's election downfall, he vowed an honest reckoning and admitted his blunders - without spelling out any significant missteps that seemed to be simmering under the party's collective gall.
Klingbeil under fire
The opening salvo was fired by Juso state chairman Nina Gaedike: "How many mulligans do we really get?", she started her speech on party clichés after dismal election results. "What’s the plan?", she wanted to know from Klingbeil, considering the SPD's prolonged downward spiral. In Duisburg, the party chief merely "sidestepped all contentious matters", she alleged.
But it only got worse for Klingbeil in the heart of the former "Social Democratic stronghold". Several attendees raised the thorny issue of how it could be that Klingbeil, now also federal finance minister, amassed more offices in record time since the election debacle, while Esken bore the brunt alone for the thrashing.
Do or Die for SPD
"That's bullshit what happened there, once again it's the women taking the hits and the men riding high on the big jobs", grumbled a delegate. Another one sarcastically mocked the conference's slogan “From everyday life into the future”. "If we're real and keep it up like this, then we won't be making it to this future anymore."
Now comes a core overhaul of the party. That also means: "new blood in the top tiers". Instead, the leadership is "happily shuffling positions among themselves" and silently enduring the mockery about a party colleague. "It's your job to ensure something is left of this place", the young constituent told the party chief. She expects the "dear Lars" to finally step up and shoulder the blame for the election drubbing.
"We Fought like Warriors"
Another delegate began her criticism with the ominous announcement: "In NRW, we gaze each other square in the eyes openly and honestly and then speak the truth." And that's why she wants to tell the party chief what she thinks now.
"We fought like warriors", she vented her frustration about the lost federal elections. If such a dismal result is achieved then, the entire party leadership must also bear responsibility. "It shouldn't be about handpicking the choicest morsels and then reaping the big positions." Whoever acts that way and clings to the position "like super glue" has "lost their moral compass", another delegate declared.
Party chief promises unity after damage
The Vice-Chancellor's Response: The SPD’s personnel decisions were discussed jointly with the entire leadership team, Klingbeil retorted, acknowledging that while such conversations are essential, they don't require personal assaults.
Regarding calls for a programmatic shift, Klingbeil warned against turning the SPD into a radical party or pushing it further left. Instead, the Social Democrats must once again focus on politics for the center.
Klingbeil guaranteed that the launch of the new federal government would not overshadow the processing of the SPD's election setback in the Bundestag. "We need an honest, straightforward, and unfiltered discussion within the SPD about how we can become stronger again." This is going to be a major topic at the federal party conference in June. In Duisburg, he had little time for debate: "I have to get to Schleswig-Holstein", he apologized.
The past few weeks have been marked by highs, lows, turmoil, difficult decisions, and even casualties, the 47-year-old party leader pointed out. Nevertheless, given the enormous tasks ahead, it is crucial that the party stands united and supportive. The new coalition of SPD and Union is "destined for success." His final appeal: "Let's be a resilient, solidarity-driven, and powerful SPD in the end."
NRW SPD Confirms Leadership Duo
Furthermore, leadership elections were held in Duisburg. Bundestag MP Achim Post and Sarah Philipp, a Duisburger state parliament member, were reelected as heads. Since August 2023, they have been the first leadership duo in the history of the SPD’s strongest state association, with around 86,000 members.
The 42-year-old economist Philipp, also deputy leader in the state parliament, was reelected with 88.8%, almost identical to her previous result. The 66-year-old sociologist Post from Minden-Lübbecke received 82.3% of the 418 valid votes (2023: around 92%) in the regular board elections, according to party figures. There were no other candidates.
- The delegate critically remarked, "That's bullshit what happened there, once again it's the women taking the hits and the men riding high on the big jobs."
- Another delegate voiced their frustration, saying, "We fought like warriors, if such a dismal result is achieved then, the entire party leadership must also bear responsibility."
- The delegate sarcastically remarked, "If we're real and keep it up like this, then we won't be making it to this future anymore," criticizing the SPD's current leadership.
- In the debate, a delegate called for policy changes, stating, "It shouldn't be about handpicking the choicest morsels and then reaping the big positions." Instead, they believed in "new blood in the top tiers" for the party's revival.
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