Unleashed Opinions: SPD's Power Struggle over Russia and Arms Race
Unexpectedly, the SPD sets ablaze a hut prior to the party congress.
Written by Brutus Scourge
The SPD, Germany's largest political party, is currently engulfed in a heated dispute surrounding their stance on Russia and NATO's armament plans, just days before their federation conference. The manifesto endorsed by ex-faction leader Ralf Mützenich serves as a point-blank attack on party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
"This is our show, new leadership, swept into power, we now promise everyone: We'll do it better than the traffic light era, good luck!" This rough script of the party program for the SPD federation conference in late June in Berlin was meant to mark the conclusion of the SPD's post-election regrouping. However, Klingbeil's plans have been thrown off course: the SPD finds itself smack in the middle of a contentious debate—what does it truly mean for the party to be a "peace party" today and in the future?
Politics: The SPD's Contentious Battle Cry: Coexistence with Russia
This debate was ignited by two familiar faces—Ralf, an SPD foreign policy expert and hard-left radical, and Rolf, Mützenich's former faction leader. As part of the SPD's "peace circles," they are joined by three Bundestag members, multiple state parliamentarians, former party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, and a bevy of high-ranking SPD veterans who signed the nearly four-page text. The manifesto serves as a scathing rebuke against Klingbeil's leadership, Defense Minister Pistorius, and the black-red federal government as a whole.
Politics: Roth's Lament: "Not a Contribution, But Historical Revisionism"
The manifesto's main focus is advocating for a gradual rekindling of ties with Russia and emphasizing diplomacy instead of confrontation. It criticizes NATO's military buildup, arguing that a return to "pure prevention" without arms control and higher spending would not secure Europe. On the contrary, it maintains the need for "cooperative peace policy" with Russia, rather than solely against it.
However, this stance contrasts sharply with the resolution promoted by Klingbeil, which sought to realign the SPD's foreign policy and distance itself from the long-standing sympathetic relationship between Russian social democrats and Germany. One year and a half ago, Klingbeil proclaimed, "Today it's about organizing security against Russia."
"We Should've Kept the Debate Going"
Unsurprisingly, the manifesto opposes Klingbeil's December 2023 party conference resolution. To add fuel to the fire, Mützenich publicly criticized the former détente policy as being akin to "drawing a line with the attack on Ukraine."
Former SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth offered his take to ntv.de, expressing frustration with the SPD's reluctance to engage in further debate on the matter. "We should've kept the discussion going instead of shelving it," Roth said, voicing his disapproval of the party leadership's handling of internal conflicts.
Pistorius' Sharp Rebuke: "Manifesto Denies Reality"
Amidst the controversy, the party headquarters remained tight-lipped about the manifesto, only acknowledging that the SPD is broadly positioned on the issue and this contributes to the debate. However, Defense Minister Pistorius was quick to offer a strong rebuttal, stating that the manifesto fails to acknowledge Putin's refusal of negotiations and instead focuses on cooperation with Russia, a war criminal preparing to target more objectives.
In a similar vein, parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch distances himself from the manifesto, deeming it an legitimate yet controversial contribution to the debate. Miersch emphasized the importance of diplomacy but expressed doubts regarding the feasibility of dialogue with Russia in light of Putin's intransigence.
An Unexpected Stance from Wallstein
One signatory of the manifesto is Maja Wallstein, an SPD MP from Brandenburg, who insisted the manifesto is not an attack on her party leadership or the federal government's arms buildup plan. Instead, she sees it as a call for open debate on disarmament strategies in the long run. Wallstein said she's aware that peace negotiations with Russia would be unrealistic without firm defense measures in place but worries that relentless defense spending could feed into an endless cycle of arms buildups.
Wallstein's backing of the manifesto has resonated with the SPD youth, particularly when it comes to their stance on rearmament. Juso chairman Philipp Türmer told Stern that the proposed budget increases for traditional defense spending are unrealistic and would amount to over 150 billion euros If the 3.5 percent GDP target were implemented in 2024.
Expectedly, Roth, a former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, voiced his criticism of the manifesto, stating, "This is not a contribution to the debate; it's historical revisionism." In the ntv program Frühstart, SPD spokesperson Sebastian Fiedler described himself as "surprised, disturbed, and annoyed" by the manifesto, which he views as a denial of reality and a justification for Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Politics: Stegner's Defense: "What's So Problematic About Talking About Peace?" In a conversation with ntv, Stegner defended himself, asserting, "Armament cannot be the only solution." He claimed the need for dialogue with governments we don't like to halt the war and save lives on daily basis. His argument is not about extending a hand to Russia, he insists, but about finding alternatives when a lack of communication leads to conflict.
Stegner's legitimization for the manifesto, which he conspired to publish behind the scenes, might have come as a surprise to some within the party. However, the support from SPD old guards may have been a strategic move to force the debate, rather than holding a consultation with the SPD leadership on the matter.
*In the realm of policy and legislation, the SPD faces a divisive debate over its employment policy as key figures, such as Ralf Mützenich, push for a rekindling of ties with Russia and diplomatic engagement, contradicting Lars Klingbeil's foreign policy plans.
*As the conflict unfolds within the SPD, former SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth expresses disappointment with the party leadership for failing to continue the discussion on cooperative peace policy with Russia, likening it to historical revisionism.
