SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken has criticized the media’s handling of her and the debate surrounding her person with sharp words. “When the public hunt begins, positive voices are also gladly ignored” she told the “taz” (Thursday edition).
Esken pointed out that an interview with current Labor Minister Bärbel Bas was interpreted as a lack of support for Esken. “Bas was asked in an interview if she supported Lars Klingbeil’s candidacy as party chairman. She said yes. But she waited for the question to be asked if she supported my candidacy. The question was not asked. From this, it was made: Bas is silent on Esken. That is a low move” Esken said to the “taz.”
Furthermore, many media outlets had staged the fact that the state association of Baden-Württemberg had not nominated her for the SPD federal party board as a sign of insufficient support. However, Esken had not asked her state association for a nomination. “That is a campaign” Esken told the “taz.”
In general, Esken criticized the public debate about her professional future as “inappropriate.” “There are so many important topics that we should be discussing: How do we push the right-wing radicals out of the parliament again? How do we strengthen democracy and cohesion and how do we develop internationally a good standing for Germany and Europe? Instead, we talk about personalities. That was a shame” Esken said.
Esken argued that women in politics have it harder than men. “We have to bring twice as much. What the male world expects from politically active women is highly contradictory and therefore unachievable.”
The SPD politician announced on Sunday that she would not run for Co-Chairman with Lars Klingbeil again at the SPD party congress at the end of June. Bärbel Bas is her designated successor.