SPD's Russia Policy Sparks Intense Discussion Before Party Conference
Prior to the SPD's party congress, a sudden blaze engulfs their hut.
By Sebastian Huld
As the SPD's federal party conference approaches, tensions are running high over the party's approach to Russia and rearmament plans. The manifesto spearheaded by former parliamentary group leader Mützenich directly challenges current party leader Klingbeil and Defense Minister Pistorius.
"New leadership, salvation of the government, we've grasped the situation better now, and we'll perform better than during the traffic light era; good luck!" The party leadership's script for the upcoming Berlin conference may have intended to finalize the SPD’s post-election introspection, allowing the party to gradually recover with government responsibility. However, these plans have been thwarted, as the SPD faces a potentially contentious debate: Defining, today and in the future, what it truly means to be a "peace party."
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Ralf Stegner, long-time SPD foreign policy expert and left-wing radical, and former parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich initiated this debate. They, along with others, are among the key signatories of the SPD's "peace circles" manifesto. The almost four-page document offers a direct challenge to party leader Klingbeil, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and the black-red federal government as a whole.
Politics | Roth on SPD's Peace Manifesto "That's Not a Debate Contribution, That's Historical Revisionism"
The manifesto advocates for a "gradual return to the easing of relations and cooperation with Russia." It questions the NATO policy emphasizing higher defense spending and more personnel, suggesting that returning to a deterrence-only strategy without arms control and high rearmament would not enhance European safety. Instead, the manifesto calls for a "peace policy with the goal of joint security" with Russia, not against it. It raises concerns over the one-sided blame for the war in Ukraine and doubts the imminent danger of a Russian assault on Germany.
"We Should Have Kept the Debate Going"
In reality, the manifesto opposes the party conference resolution championed by Klingbeil in December 2023. Shortly after his election as chairman, Klingbeil aimed to realign the SPD’s foreign policy and move beyond the longstanding, deadly Russia proximity held by German social democrats. "Today, it's about organizing defense against Russia," Klingbeil stated a year and a half ago. However, at the party conference, Mützenich also addressed the assembly and expressed regret for equating the former détente policy with the "aggression" against Ukraine.
In the Crosshairs
Michael Roth, a former SPD foreign policy expert, shares the sentiment: "The SPD must acknowledge their shortcoming in reacting to the imbalance within the party. We should have kept the debate going instead of shelving it." The day following the manifesto’s release in the magazine Stern, the SPD headquarters merely responded: "The SPD is broadly positioned on this matter; that's a good thing, as we're a party of the people." However, it remains clear that Russia is the aggressor, and Germany supports Ukraine.
Pistorius Firmly Rejects Manifesto
Minister of Defense Pistorius, a popular figure within the country, offers a sharp rebuke of the manifesto. He feels the document fails to acknowledge Putin's refusal to engage in negotiations and de-escalation. "He breaks off negotiations, and when conducting them, he simultaneously bombards the cities in Ukraine with increasing ferocity and brutality," says Pistorius.
Miersch Distances Himself
Parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch also distances himself from the position taken in this manifesto, though he acknowledges its legitimacy as a contribution to the party debate. He clarifies his stance: "Of course, diplomacy remains the highest commandment. But we must also be honest – many offers of conversation have been rejected. Vladimir Putin is not yet open to dialogue."
Expectations as Predicted, Former Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Roth Offers Critical Commentary on the Paper. "The So-Called Manifesto is Not a Debate Contribution, It's Historical Revisionism," Roth Told ntv.de. He Asserted That Ignoring Russian Security Interests is "Blatant Nonsense." On ntv's Frühstart program, the SPD's parliamentary group's interior spokesman, Sebastian Fiedler, admitted feeling "surprised, disturbed, and annoyed" by the paper. "It even talks about cooperation with Russia, i.e., with a war criminal who is planning more attack objectives."
Stegner Defends SPD Paper "What's So Problematic About Talking About Peace?"
In an afternoon interview with ntv, Stegner argued: "Arming can't be the only solution." He emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue to bring an end to the war and prevent the daily loss of innocent lives. He maintained that it's not about extending an olive branch to Russia; "Putin is a war criminal, and this is not in question. The issue is: What is the alternative if we stop talking?" In past times, peace negotiations, disarmament, and arms control agreements with undemocratic regimes have ensured worldwide peace. "There's nothing wrong with this; it's a reasonable contribution to the SPD's program debate." It remains to be seen why Stegner opted for the publication of an open letter, which he reportedly orchestrated secretly. The party veterans, rather than consulting the SPD leadership on this issue, appeared to force the debate.
No Attack on the Leadership
Stegner and Mützenich have garnered support from the SPD youth, particularly with regard to the debate surrounding rearmament. "If we had invested 3.5 percent of GDP for military defense in 2024 alone, it would have amounted to over 150 billion euros. That's largely detached from reality," Juso chairman Philipp Türmer told Stern. Among the signatories is also Brandenburg's SPD Bundestag deputy Maja Wallstein, who denies the manifesto represents an attack on her party leadership or the federal government's rearmament course. "It's not about starting a fight within the SPD. It's about having open debates about how we can also work towards a disarmament perspective in the long run."
Wallstein is among the numerous eastern German signatories of the manifesto. In the east, the SPD experienced significant losses in the Bundestag election. The military support for Ukraine and economic distancing from Russia are less appealing there than in the rest of the republic. A guiding motion passed by the federal board for the federal party conference offers no insight into how the SPD could recapture lost ground in the east in the future or how it plans to capitalize on linking peace and defense policy. Perhaps this explains the support for the position paper, whose impact on the SPD is expected.
- The 'peace circles' manifesto initiated by Ralf Stegner and Rolf Mützenich, among others, has sparked a heated debate within the SPD, challenging the current party leadership's approach towards Russia and rearmament, particularly in terms of employment policies related to defense spending and strategic alliances.
- Themanifesto, which advocates for a gradual return to ease relations and cooperation with Russia, has provoked responses from key political figures within the SPD, including Defense Minister Pistorius, who criticizes it for ignoring Putin's refusal to engage in negotiations and de-escalation, a matter of utmost importance for the employment policy agenda.
