Leading figures within Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) are calling for greater clarity and distinctiveness in the policies and actions of the governing coalition partners – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the SPD itself.
Achim Post, Deputy Chairman of the SPD and head of the North Rhine-Westphalia branch, emphasized the need for both parties to create space for each other to define their positions more clearly. He argued that voters must be able to identify what each coalition member stands for. Post suggested the SPD should concentrate on core areas such as social security, investment and the preservation of jobs, areas where he believes the party possesses particular expertise.
Simultaneously, Post stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary internal disputes, citing the recent debate surrounding the selection of judges for the Federal Constitutional Court as an example of friction that should be prevented. He said the government’s primary function is to operate effectively.
Ronja Endres, Chairwoman of the SPD in Bavaria, echoed the need for a stronger, more clearly defined role, particularly in relation to the concerns of Germany’s “Mittelstand”-small and medium-sized businesses. Endres emphasized that addressing the challenges faced by the Mittelstand is crucial to the future of the SPD. She advocated for addressing practical issues such as unreliable rail services and shortages in healthcare, while reaffirming the social safety net’s priority focus on hard-working, tax-paying citizens, rather than those perceived to be taking advantage of the system.