Hut abruptly catches fire during SPD party conference.

Firebrand SPD-Russia Debate Signals Party Conference Turmoil

SPD unexpectedly torches hut prior to party congress.

By Jazzy Jones

With the SPD's federal party conference looming at the end of June in Berlin, a ferocious argument has ignited over the party's position on Russia and defense spending. The platform endorsed by former party leader, Mützenich, is a scathing rebuke of current chairman, Klingbeil, Defense Minister Pistorius, and the federal government as a whole.

"Steering us into leadership, saved from the dumpster, we've made it, and now we're about to beat the traffic light coalition at their game, good luck!" For Klingbeil and the SPD leadership, this has been the script for the federal party conference. After the dismal election results on February 23, Klingbeil has worked tirelessly to ensure this conference will serve as a turning point in recovery for the party. But his meticulous plans have been thrown off-balance: the SPD now finds itself embroiled in a heated, divisive dispute - one that questions the very essence of being the "peace party."

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The fracas was sparked by an open letter dubbed the "manifesto." Key signatories include long-time SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner and former parliamentary group leader, Rolf Mützenich, alongside three other Bundestag members, several members of state parliaments, former party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, and numerous former influential party members. The manifesto, written in a clarion call to action, serves as a direct challenge to Klingbeil's leadership, Defense Minister Pistorius, and the black-red federal government as a whole.

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The authors propose a "step-by-step return" to reconciliation efforts and cooperation with Russia. They question the prudence of increased defense spending and troop numbers, labeling it as "a return to pure deterrence without arms control and excessive rearmament" that would not enhance the continent's safety. Instead, they advocate for a "peace policy with the aim of joint security" with Russia, not against Russia. They point out the oversights and errors in NATO cooperation and argue that one-sided blame regarding the war in Ukraine is not advantageous. They argue that the European NATO forces already outmatch the Russian military, thus casting doubt on the immediate threat of a Russian attack on Germany.

Looking back to move forward?

In essence, the manifesto contradicts the party conference resolution pushed by Klingbeil in December 2023. At that time, Klingbeil aimed to redefine the SPD's foreign policy and draw a line under the long-standing, costly Russia proximity of German social democrats. "Today, it's about organizing protection against Russia," Klingbeil stated then. However, back at the party conference, Mützenich insisted, amid thunderous applause, that it was regrettable to equate the former policy of détente with the aggressive war against Ukraine.

Rumblings "Manifesto" of SPD Left Alarms Party Colleagues Social Democrats like Stegner and Mützenich acknowledge their past underestimation of Putin's aggressive imperialism. Nevertheless, they continue to champion the long-term stance of entente through proximity to Moscow, political talks, and economic interdependence. During the traffic light government, this position was vigorously represented by Mützenich, which did not always please the often wavering federal chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Conversely, Mützenich ensured that the parliamentary group followed Scholz's lead, even when all party members had already assembled and saw the incoming electoral iceberg on the horizon.

"The SPD leadership must recognize the criticism that it failed to address the imbalance between conviction and sentiment within the party," says Michael Roth, former politician, to ntv.de. "We should have continued this internal debate instead of shelving it." In response to the manifesto, the SPD headquarters issued a brief statement: "The SPD is broadly represented on this issue, and that's a good thing - we are a mass party. Thus, it is also a contribution to the debate." However, it is not up for discussion that Russia is the aggressor, and that Germany supports Ukraine.

A sharp rebuke from Defense Minister Pistorius and opposition from the ranks

Roth himself was eventually isolated due to his passionate demands for more decisive support for Ukraine, a fate partially due to Mützenich. "I'm surprised that the former SPD faction chairman is trying to undermine his own party, government, and popular Defense Minister Pistorius in this manner," says Roth, in reference to Mützenich. "The same faction chairman who had repeatedly accused me of overstepping the bounds of the party's solidarity with me." This time, this accusation could be leveled at Mützenich himself.

A Promising Start Fiedler in ntv Early Show "Manifesto" to Kremlin "Disturbing and Disappointing" In a reaction to the manifesto, Defense Minister Pistorius takes a firm stance: "This document strips reality of its core. It exploits people's fervent desire for an end to the tragic war in Ukraine." Pistorius laments the lack of acknowledgment in the manifesto that Vladimir Putin is refusing genuine negotiations and de-escalation. "He breaks off talks while simultaneously escalating attacks with greater ferocity and brutality in Ukraine," states Pistorius.

Mützenich's successor, faction leader Matthias Miersch, also distanced himself from the document: "This is a legitimate contribution to the debate, even if I explicitly dispute several central premises." Miersch added, "Of course, diplomacy remains the top priority. But we must also be honest: Many offers of conversation - from Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz - have been rejected. Putin is unwilling to engage in talks so far."

As anticipated, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Roth, expressed his concerns about the manifesto. "Not a constructive solution, but historical revisionism," Roth told ntv.de. He mocked the claim that Russian security concerns had not been considered as "total nonsense." In the ntv program Frühstart, the interior spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Fiedler, expressed his shock, unease, and dismay at the paper. "It even suggests cooperation with a war criminal preparing to target new attack objectives."

Politics Stegner defends SPD manifesto "Peace can't be the only solution" In an afternoon interview with ntv, Stegner defends himself: "Arming ourselves can't be the only answer." We must also communicate with governments we dislike to bring an end to this war and prevent more people from dying every day. It's not about extending a hand to Russia. "Nobody contests that Putin is a war criminal. The question is, what alternative do we have if we cease talking?" In the past, diplomatic resolutions and arms control agreements have been reached with nondemocratic regimes to restore peace. "Many people, including us, hope for that. It's not problematic, but a sensible addition to the SPD's program debate." It remains to be seen why Stegner chose to publish this open letter, seeking supporters under the radar beforehand, rather than discussing the debate with the SPD leadership.**

Wallstein: Not an attack on SPD leadership Stegner and Mützenich find support from the SPD youth, particularly regarding rearmament debates. "If we had spent 3.5% of GDP exclusively on traditional defense in 2024, it would have been over 150 billion euros – numbers that are largely detached from reality," Juso chair Philipp Türmer told Stern. Among the signatories is also Brandenburg's SPD MP Maja Wallstein, who sees the manifesto as neither an attack on her party leadership nor the federal government's rearmament course. "I don't want to create within the SPD. I want open debates on how we can work towards a disarmament perspective over the long run," Wallstein told ntv.de. "I'm aware that peace talks with this Russian government are out of the question without deterrence. However, our ability to defend ourselves should not contribute to endless escalation spirals we accept as the new normal."

Wallstein is one of the numerous East German signatories of the manifesto. Particularly in the East, the SPD has suffered significant losses in the Bundestag election. Military support for Ukraine and economic decoupling from Russia are less popular between Schwerin and Erfurt than in the rest of Germany. However, the federal board's guiding resolution for the federal party conference does not provide information on how the SPD can recover ground in the East or profitably link peace and defense policy. Perhaps this explains the support for the manifesto, whose impact on the SPD is foreseeable.

The debate within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has intensified, with key members like Ralf Stegner and Rolf Mützenich advocating for a shift in policy to promote reconciliation and cooperation with Russia, contrary to Klingbeil's defense-focused approach.
Michael Roth, a former politician, criticized the SPD's lack of in-house dialogue on these issues, stating, "We should have continued this internal debate instead of shelving it." This criticism stems from concerns over the party's stance on Russia and its impact on domestic politics and foreign policy.