SPD Must Revamp Its Principles, Says Armand Zorn, Party Faction Leader
In an interview with RTL and ntv, Armand Zorn, the faction leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), expressed his support for the proposal by former faction chief Rolf Mützenich to develop a new fundamental program for the party. Zorn believes that the SPD needs a “personnel, programmatic and structural reorientation” to stay relevant in the modern political landscape.
While the party has already begun the process of reorganizing its personnel, Zorn emphasized the need for a programmatic overhaul as well. The current fundamental program, dating back to 2007, no longer adequately addresses the pressing societal questions of the 21st century, he said. The party must provide answers to the big questions, such as the future of the social welfare state, the handling of digitalization and technological changes, according to Zorn.
The designated party leader, Lars Klingbeil, has called for the SPD to return to its roots as a party of labor. Zorn shares this sentiment, but not by pitting “beneficiaries of social benefits” against “providers of services.” Instead, he believes the party should engage in a fundamental discussion about how to understand and organize work in the 21st century and how to ensure that the profits generated are fairly distributed.