Saskia Esken Refuses to 'Poison' Against SPD After Resignation
SPD will not face Esken's "venomous" opposition
Saskia Esken, the outgoing co-chair of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has announced she won't publicly critique her party's upcoming leadership. In an exclusive interview with daily newspaper "taz", she stated, "Don't expect me to fire shots at the SPD for personal reasons." Historically, former SPD leaders like Andrea Nahles followed a similar approach post-resignation.
Esken brings up the gender bias women in politics frequently face. She claims, "As women in politics, we have to deliver twice as much. The demands placed on politically active women are often contradictory and impossible to meet."
Background
Esken, age 63, made her announcement for not seeking re-election on Sunday. She's led the SPD since 2019 alongside Lars Klingbeil, who moved on to serve as deputy chancellor and finance minister in the recent coalition government. Barbra Bas, the new labor minister, is among the candidates running for the post against Klingbeil. The voting will occur at the end of June at a federal party conference. Bas is described as a 'friend' by Esken.
Away from Personal Drama
In the aftermath of the SPD's poor federal election, Klingbeil jumped at the opportunity to become parliamentary group chairman. In contrast, Esken faced repeated inquiries regarding her professional future, which she deemed "inappropriate." She feels that discussions should revolve around essential topics instead of personal matters. Esken described her feelings after the announcement of her departure as calm and peaceful. She's looking forward to contributing to the committee for education, family, seniors, women, and youth professionally in the future.
Karin Prien, the new education minister from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), described Esken as a "stroke of luck" in her endeavors.
Nuances of Resignation
While the reasons for Esken's resignation are unclear, one can suggest possible factors. Firstly, it could be a move to promote unity within the party by avoiding internal strife[1][5]. Secondly, her decision may be part of a personal strategy to preserve her own political legacy or prevent potential backlash from within the party. Lastly, her support for the transition and cooperation with Lars Klingbeil and Barbra Bas could signal a smoother leadership transition[4].
Source: ntv.de, ino/dpa
- SPD
- Saskia Esken
Other discussions within policy-and-legislation might focus on addressing gender bias in general-news, including politics, considering Saskia Esken's statements about the demands placed on women in politics. Saskia Esken's decision not to engage in public critiques of the SPD after her resignation aligns with the approach taken by previous SPD leaders, such as Andrea Nahles.
