SPD's Strength in the South-West region amplifies following Esken's departure
In a surprising turn of events, Saskia Esken, the former co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), will not be a part of the new cabinet. This decision comes after intense debates within the party regarding her competency and leadership style.
Esken, who served as co-leader of the SPD since December 2019, faced internal party dynamics that made sustaining support challenging. Her leadership coexisted with various internal debates in the SPD about direction and strategy, especially considering the party's roles and compromises in coalition governments. This resulted in a mixed internal reception, impacting her ability to forge a unified front within the party leadership and membership.
The lack of widespread support inside the SPD arises from intra-party disagreements and leadership challenges, which constrain Esken's political trajectory and diminish her prominence in future SPD leadership configurations.
Despite missing out on a cabinet post, Esken played a balancing role in the traffic light coalition. Her absence, however, leaves a significant gap in the representation of the Southwest SPD, which will remain without a minister for the next four years.
In a positive note, three state secretaries from the Southwest SPD - Nils Schmid, Rita Schwarzeluhr-Sutter, and Katja Mast - will represent the party. Schmid, a former party leader and economics and finance minister from 2011 to 2016, will be in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Schwarzeluhr-Sutter, a prominent foreign policy expert, will be in the Ministry of the Environment. Mast, previously serving as the parliamentary business manager, will take up a role in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The importance of these state secretaries lies in their substance-level work and as a link between MPs and the ministerial administration. Building networks and long-term relationships is crucial for better positioning in future government formations.
The Southwest SPD's representation, though lacking a ministerial post, is significant. In the past, the Baden-Württemberg SPD had more ministers and was better networked in the federal party, leading to more posts. However, the current situation underscores the need for strategic networking and relationship building within the party.
Esken's absence from the cabinet is a setback for her politically speaking, as without a power base, it's not possible for her to hold a significant position. Whether she will be able to regain her influence within the party remains to be seen.
Sources: [1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/saskia-esken-verliert-an-einfluss-innerhalb-der-spd-a-127034808.html [2] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article208501058/Saskia-Esken-und-die-SPD-eine-Trennung-von-der-Kanzlerkandidatin.html [5] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/esken-spd-101.html
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