SPD members vote on new leader who will decide Merkel's coalition

Social Democratic Party of Germany is set to announce the result of a membership vote on a new leader on October 26, which will decide whether to exit coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives. The party will announce the result of the ballot of its 426,000 members which will be officially decided by delegates at a conference in December. SPD has been leaderless since June when Andrea Nahles quit after the party’s worst result in a European election. About 12 candidates are running for the post of which the frontrunner is Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 

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SPD divided over coalition with Merkel

Yet it is unclear whether Scholz will garner the 50% or more of the vote needed to avoid a run-off ballot in November as the vote is expected to be fragmented. The candidates are also to decide on staying or leaving the Government. Members within SPD also wish to end the alliance with Merkel so as stand as an opposition.  SPD alleges that they had to compromise on policies to be with her party. The rift might lead to a minority government - both unappealing options for stability-loving Germans.

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All 12 candidates are reportedly running in pairs including Scholz and his running mate who want the coalition to continue while others are against, including one led by Norbert Walter-Borjans from Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The opposing pair is also sceptical about remaining in government but have not been explicit. On the other hand, analysts said the media that the protracted leadership campaign has merely highlighted the lack of quality in the top ranks of the party. There is no candidate that is convincing to voters and who also brings charisma, they added.

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SPD has had a record of back to back lows

Analysts further said that the winners in the election will have to unite a party that has been bitterly divided between leftists and centrists since former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s welfare and labour market reforms some 15 years ago. SPD has declined dramatically after facing a surge in support for the Greens on the left and with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) collecting protest votes. Since 1998, SPD has lost two-thirds of its support since 1998. The party fell to its lowest since 1933 in 2017.

(With inputs from agencies)

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