SPD won't face antagonism from Esken
Title: Saskia Esken Steps Down as Co-Chair of the SPD: No More Personal Fighting Against Party Leadership
Quick Take: The SPD's outgoing co-chair Saskia Esken has decided to step aside from public criticisms of the future party leadership, aiming to avoid personal disputes. While she will continue to monitor the party's progress, she pledges not to undermine the SPD.
Saskia Esken, the departing SPD co-chair, is determined to avoid unnecessary controversy by vowing to abstain from public criticism of future leadership. In an open interview with the daily newspaper "taz", she declared, "I won't poison against the SPD for personal reasons." A similar approach was adopted by former SPD chairwoman Andrea Nahles after her resignation, as per Esken.
Women in politics often face tougher challenges than their male counterparts, according to Esken. She asserted that they are obliged to surmount higher expectations, which in many instances are inconsistent and impossible to fulfill.
Political Dynamics - Within the Party
At 63, Esken announced her decision not to run for SPD chair again last Sunday. She led the party jointly with Lars Klingbeil, who has since become vice-chancellor and finance minister in the black-red federal government. The new labor minister, Barbara Bas, is a potential successor, running with Klingbeil for the post, with voting scheduled at a federal party conference at the end of June. Esken considers Bas a friend.
Faces Over Issues
While Klingbeil swiftly seized the faction chair following the SPD's devastating defeat in the Bundestag election, Esken repeatedly faced criticisms within the party. She admitted in the "taz" interview that the constant inquiry about her professional future was "inappropriate." According to Esken, there are numerous pressing issues to debate, but instead, the discussions often revolve around personalities, which she considers a shame.
When asked about her feelings after announcing her resignation, Esken replied, "I'd call it calm. I am at peace with myself. But of course, some tension does diminish now." She now looks forward to engaging professionally in the committee on education, family, seniors, women, and youth. The new education minister, Karin Prien of the CDU, has hailed Esken as a valuable addition.
Source: ntv.de, ino/dpa
- SPD
- Saskia Esken
Enrichment Data: The search results indicate that Esken's departure from the SPD co-chair position is not entirely voluntary, as she risks being excluded from the current coalition government entirely by her own state party[3][5]. The issue appears to be part of the internal power struggles within the SPD in preparation for its roles in the new government under Friedrich Merz[3]. Concerning her future plans, the search results provide no specific insights.
- Saskia Esken, the departing SPD co-chair, has decided to abstain from public criticisms of future leadership, aiming to avoid personal disputes, as she stated, "I won't poison against the SPD for personal reasons."
- Esken's announcement not to run for SPD chair again was followed by the emergence of numerous pressing issues to debate, but instead, the discussions often revolve around personalities, which she considers a shame.
- Other issues that Esken might keep a watchful eye on include migration, war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, and general-news as these topics are prevalent in the political landscape.
- As Esken steps down as co-chair, she faces the risk of being excluded from the current coalition government entirely by her own state party, as per search results, indicating internal power struggles within the SPD in preparation for its roles in the new government under Friedrich Merz.
- As Esken pledges not to undermine the SPD, she looks to engage professionally in the committee on education, family, seniors, women, and youth, where she was welcomed as a valuable addition by the new education minister, Karin Prien of the CDU.
