SPD leader Esken eliminated from the government cabinet
Saskia Esken, the long-serving co-leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), has decided not to join Chancellor Friedrich Merz's (CDU) black-red federal government. This decision comes after a series of events that have shaken Esken's position within the party.
Esken, who has been leading the SPD in a dual leadership since 2019, first with Norbert Walter-Borjans and since 2021 with Lars Klingbeil, suffered a defeat in her constituency during the February election, receiving only 12.9% of the first votes. This defeat, coupled with debates within her home state association, has raised questions about her future in the party.
In a surprising turn of events, Esken did not submit a candidacy for the federal executive this year, unlike in 2023. The state executive of the Baden-Württemberg SPD also chose not to nominate her for the federal executive this year, further fueling speculation about her future.
State general secretary Sascha Binder criticized Esken in an interview, stating that cabinet posts should go to those with party and public trust. However, Leni Breymaier, former SPD state chairwoman, defended Esken, accusing Binder of making life difficult for women in the party.
Rumours suggest that Esken was aiming for a post as Minister for Development Cooperation. However, the SPD was divided on this issue, with some members supporting her candidacy and others opposing it.
In the 2021 Bundestag election, Esken received 16.83% of the votes, a significant drop from her previous performance. The CDU politician Klaus Mack won the Calw constituency where Esken represents, securing 39% of the first votes.
As of June 2025, Bärbel Bas joined Lars Klingbeil as a co-leader of the SPD, leaving Esken's current status within the party leadership unclear. The SPD has published a personnel table indicating Esken's decision, but it remains uncertain whether she will leave the party empty-handed after the Bundestag election.
Katja Mast and Isabel Cademartori have been proposed as possible members by the parliamentary group, but the future of Saskia Esken within the SPD remains a topic of ongoing discussion. Critics argue that some men in the party are trying to assert themselves and provide posts to others, while defenders maintain that Esken has made significant contributions to the party and deserves recognition for her service.
For the most recent and detailed information on Saskia Esken's future within the SPD, one would need to look at news updates or official SPD statements issued after June 2025.
Saskia Esken's decision not to join Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government raises questions about her future in the SPD, particularly regarding her career and potential roles in policy-and-legislation. The debates within her home state association and the SPD's division on her candidacy for a post as Minister for Development Cooperation further complicate the issue, with ongoing discussions about her status within the party leadership.
