A prominent political scientist is warning of significant challenges for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as the governing coalition enters its fourth month. Wolfgang Schroeder, formerly a member of the SPD’s Values Commission until 2024, suggests the party faces a real risk of declining to under ten percent in future polls. He attributes this vulnerability to difficulties in establishing a distinct public profile and navigating compromises within the current coalition government.
Schroeder emphasized the importance of achieving balance in upcoming social reforms and austerity measures, expressing concern that the government could be perceived as disproportionately burdening vulnerable populations. He argued for a clearly defined social democratic policy that addresses resource limitations, suggesting a potential role for Bärbel Bas in shaping a more equitable approach to sharing the burden of reform between key party figures like Lars Klingbeil and herself.
The political scientist believes the SPD needs to re-establish a clear societal identity, differentiating itself from its coalition partners. Paradoxically, Schroeder identifies Chancellor Friedrich Merz as a potentially beneficial counterpart in this effort. He described Merz as an advocate for open political conflict-a stark contrast to the styles of both Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz-and suggests the SPD could capitalize on this dynamic. Merz, according to Schroeder, positions the coalition as the core of political discourse, a framing the SPD should actively leverage to enhance its visibility and influence.