Social Democrats put forward Esken and Klingbeil for party leadership

As Norbert Walter-Borjans steps back as party co-leader, the SPD’s secretary-general and close Olaf Scholz ally Lars Klingbeil has been tapped to replace him at the party’s helm.

The future German chancellor Scholz had been snubbed by his party in 2019 when it denied him the party leadership position and opted for Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken from the party’s left.

Klingbeil is credited with being a core part of the team that unified the German social democrats ahead of the 2021 federal elections and part of the economically conservative intra-party faction known as the ‘Seeheim circle’, like Scholz.

Klingbeil, son of a professional soldier, and known to be in favour of close business ties with Russia faces one important task: keeping the often rebellious SPD in line as it leads the new government.

As EURACTIV understands, Klingbeil had had plans to become minister of defence, but taking the party leadership may put those plans to rest since the party leader is expected to stay out of government.

Klingbeil is expected to be confirmed at a party convention in December, starting an internal debate over who should replace him as secretary-general.

While some would want to see the young and successful left-winger Kevin Kühnert as his successor, there are concerns within the party about gender parity.

(Nikolaus J. Kurmayer  | EURACTIV.de)