A leading figure in the SPD’s parliamentary group, Philipp Türmer, has called for self-criticism from his party. He stated in an interview with the ARD’s “Tagesthemen” on Wednesday that the party should have sent a signal of self-criticism on election night.
Türmer commented on the election of Klingbeil, saying that the latter was elected in “difficult times” and that it is necessary to say that it was a success to some extent.
Türmer identifies the problem as an “all-encompassing programmatic alignment” that the SPD needs and that it is essential to regain lost trust. “That is the primary task” he emphasized, adding that the party should, in fact, “send a signal to the outside, we must change.”
He is unsure whether the negotiations with the Union will be successful in the end. In the previous coalition negotiations for the government of the Ampel coalition, “many formulaic compromises were made” instead of actual agreements, according to Türmer. “That must not happen in negotiations” he said.