A group of Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) women have expressed their discontent with the current personal discussion within the party and have publicly shown their support for the beleaguered party chair, Saskia Esken.
According to Maria Noichl, co-chair of the SPD women, the team of the party’s leadership, including the Chancellor, had the task of planning and leading the election campaign. “As a team, a failure can never be attributed to a woman” Noichl told the Stern magazine, adding that this view is “neither fair nor right for some.”
The principle, “We win together, we lose together” is applicable, Noichl emphasized. Saskia Esken, the party chair, has always been a vocal advocate for gender equality, Noichl said, describing her as an honest and brave woman who highlights the need for change in Germany. Noichl also quoted a Bavarian saying, “much enemy – much honor” to express her support for Esken.
The SPD women, formerly known as the Association of Social Democratic Women (ASF), are one of several working groups within the SPD, aiming to promote the equal representation of women and men in the party and society. The organization, comprising around 150,000 women, or roughly 31 percent of all SPD members, does not require a formal membership application.