Bundesarbeitsminister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has decided not to continue in the new cabinet and remains silent on the possibility of a new role at the head of the SPD-Bundestagsfraktion. “I am not speculating about my own person” he said to Politico on Thursday. He had previously announced at a DGB demonstration in Peine that he would not be a minister in the new federal government.
Heil explained that the SPD will have to clarify the overall picture in the coming days. They have agreed to restructure the faction. “As the current serving labor minister, a member of the faction and deputy party chairman, I will of course participate solidly in this team formation” he said.
When asked if he could imagine a fight for the position of faction leader, perhaps against Matthias Miersch or Carsten Schneider, Heil answered cautiously. “I have not had good experiences in my political life with fuelling personnel speculation. What the SPD needs to discuss, we will discuss together – with all understanding for the question.