No Rest for the Wicked: New SPD Chairwoman Bärbel Bas Braces for Turbulence Ahead
Trouble looms for Bas following his appointment as the new SPD leader.
Dealing with the fallout of Andrea Nahles and Saskia Esken, Bärbel Bas is set to become the SPD's third female leader, but she's bracing herself for the possibility of facing similar challenges. FDP veteran Wolfgang Kubicki has extended his support to the future chairwoman.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, the incoming SPD chairwoman, Bärbel Bas, expressed concerns about the manner in which parts of the party treated her predecessor, Saskia Esken. She admitted to having "great respect" for Esken but was frustrated by the way some individuals behaved. "It could happen to me too," she warned. "I prefer to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised if it turns out differently."
Maternal Pension Delayed Until 2028: Bas Pushes for 48% Pension Guarantee
While she criticizes the handling of Esken, Bas would not have challenged her again if she had sought reelection. She knows the harm that personal conflicts can inflict, and she prefers to steer clear of them. "It's not worth it to me," she declared.
Entering the SPD leadership ranks as the third woman, following Nahles and Esken, Bas has made waves by speaking her mind on contentious issues. Both her predecessors, however, resigned under intense party pressure.
"I Ain't No Special Snowflake"
Perceived as a trailblazer due to her rise from humble beginnings, Bas dismisses the idea of feeling special. "I know it's supposed to be something special, but I don't feel it," she said. She believes the lack of similar careers today is a testament to the SPD's success in creating opportunities for working-class children to succeed academically and in politics.
Former Bundestag vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki, an FDP stalwart, expressed support for Bas. "If more social democrats were like Bärbel Bas, the party would be saved," he told Der Spiegel. Kubicki and Bas worked closely for more than three years in the last legislative period. He praised her reliability, straightforwardness, openness, and down-to-earth approach, although he acknowledged she may lack the oratorical skills of some. "Anybody who treats Frau Bas disrespectfully will have to answer to me," he threatened.
Bas is set to be officially elected as the new SPD chairwoman on Friday.
Sources: ntv.de, mau
- Bärbel Bas
- Saskia Esken
- Wolfgang Kubicki
- SPD
Outside of their individual leadership roles, the SPD has been plagued by ideological disputes and factionalism dating back to its early days, with notable tensions between revisionists and orthodox Marxists contributing to significant internal struggles2. In recent times, debates within the SPD have centered around topics such as foreign policy, security, and economic reform, echoing broader challenges for the party as it grapples with maintaining a balance between its traditional working-class base and pragmatic leadership5.
- In the midst of her new role as SPD's chairwoman, Bärbel Bas plans to adopt implementing acts for the regulation of politics, emphasizing the need for a fair and cohesive democratic system within the party, as she navigates the party's historical internal disputes and factionalism.
- Despite her rise from humble beginnings and the support from Wolfgang Kubicki, Bärbel Bas remains focused on tackling the economic reform issues that the SPD faces, aiming to address concerns related to maternal pension and guaranteeing a 48% pension for all, while keeping a watchful eye on internal conflicts, learned from the experiences of her predecessors Saskia Esken and Andrea Nahles.
