Strengthened South-West SPD Post-Esken
In a recent government formation, Saskia Esken, a former co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), did not secure a ministerial post. This is despite the SPD forming a coalition with the CDU/CSU alliance, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following the 2025 federal election [2][3].
Saskia Esken served as a co-leader of the SPD alongside Lars Klingbeil until June 2025, when Bärbel Bas joined Klingbeil in the leadership role [3]. However, the search results do not provide explicit information about Esken's role in the recent government formation.
The absence of a ministerial post for Esken leaves the Southwest SPD without a minister for another four years. Yet, the region is well represented without a ministerial post by the state secretaries, including Nils Schmid, one of the three state secretaries in the second row [4].
Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter and Katja Mast serve as state secretaries in the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, respectively. State secretaries are crucial on the subject level, acting as a link between members of parliament and the ministerial administration [7].
Esken's lack of a power base within the SPD and her own regional association, as well as her perceived lack of strong rhetorical skills [10], may have contributed to her not receiving a ministerial post. Building networks and relationships over the long term is important for a better position in a possible next government formation [11].
Despite missing out on a ministerial post, Esken played a conciliatory role in the traffic light coalition [9]. She may be offered a different position, such as Vice President of the Bundestag or a honorary position in the future. Meanwhile, Lars Klingbeil has taken on the roles of Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister of Germany [6].
The Baden-Württemberg SPD, which has been better networked in the federal party in the past, provided more ministers and secured posts [8]. However, the Jusos (Young Socialists) and a few scattered women were not enough to secure Esken's position.
In the past, Nils Schmid, who served as party leader and Minister of Economics and Finance from 2011 to 2016 [1], has demonstrated the importance of long-term networking and relationship-building for a better position in a possible next government formation.
- The lack of a ministerial post for Saskia Esken, despite her former leadership role in the SPD, may indicate a shift in the party's economic and social policy priorities, given her expertise.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, state secretaries like Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter and Katja Mast, who are serving in key ministries, play a significant role in forging links between parliament and the ministerial administration, much like Saskia Esken might have done in a ministerial capacity.
