Germany’s Federal Minister for Digitalisation and Housing, Verena Hubertz, has publicly voiced concerns regarding the treatment of former Social Democratic Party (SPD) chairwoman Saskia Esken. In a recent podcast interview with the Funke media group, Hubertz stated that women in politics are often held to a harsher standard.
Hubertz described the handling of Esken as “unfair” arguing that her contributions to the party were significant. She specifically credited Esken’s work as instrumental to the SPD’s success in securing the chancellorship.
Responding to questions about internal party dynamics, Hubertz defended current SPD co-leader and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Lars Klingbeil, characterizing him as far from unscrupulous and possessing a strong strategic vision.
In discussing her own successful ascent within the party, Hubertz emphasized the importance of maintaining a life outside of politics, stating her commitment to knowing Berlin beyond the confines of the government district.
Hubertz assessed the current state of the SPD as a vessel needing substantial effort to regain relevance, highlighting a distinctly low level of public sentiment towards the party across Germany. While acknowledging the potential for resurgence, she indicated a need for focused internal work, expressing her desire to contribute to that process.