As we all know, nothing comes from nothing. So the two SPD co-chairs try the day after their serious one Election defeat in Rhineland-Palatinateto explain the disaster.

For Bas and Klingbeil, maintaining power is more important than the success of the coalition

Things aren’t easy for the Klingbeil/Bas duo. On the one hand, people have to fight for their own positions in the party and government. On the other hand, the black-red federal government now finally wants to tackle the major reforms that were left behind in the last “autumn of reforms”, especially the welfare state reform. This is only possible with a reform-minded and united SPD.

But the signs are bad, very bad. Because Klingbeil, who was previously quite willing to make changes, now appears to be facing a confrontation with the Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU/CSU. One could interpret it like this: the SPD leadership cares more about maintaining its own power than the success of the coalition.

Dispute in the black-red coalition

The cooperation between black and red has already suffered, among other things, from the fact that the left wing wants to avoid anything that could be seen as a departure from the social democratic ideal of the fully comprehensive utility state.

Lars Klingbeil and the demarcation from the CDU

Klingbeil gave the impression that he wanted to gradually move away from this course. But now – apparently under pressure from the party’s left – he is relying on a sharp demarcation from the CDU and even on class struggle.

From the perspective of the SPD chairman and vice-chancellor, the workers are running away from the SPD because of the CDU’s reform plans. The fact that the SPD had viewed the AfD solely as a competitor to the CDU/CSU for far too long is taking revenge. But the far-right party has long been number one among workers and employees.

Klingbeil’s declaration of war on Merz

The day after the SPD disaster in Mainz, Klingbeil caricatured what the CDU supposedly wants: From the perspective of the Union, people are “all too lazy”. And: “They should work more. They shouldn’t take so much sick leave. They shouldn’t do so much part-time work. They should work until they’re 70. And maybe even pay for the dentist privately.”

Klingbeil’s verdict: “That is not the social democratic concept of reform.” His challenge to Merz: “We’re talking Tacheles now.”

The SPD is flailing around like a drowning man

Klingbeil’s announcement differs significantly from the cooperative tone with which the CDU commented on its own victory. In Rhineland-Palatinate, state political issues determined the election outcome, analyzed CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann.

It was an attempt to absolve the coalition partner, who had already been badly criticized in Baden-Württemberg, of any complicity in the state election defeats of their own comrades. But apparently it didn’t help.

With the election of the SPD-led government in Mainz, what the CDU had feared in Berlin has happened: the SPD is flailing around like a drowning man. It is doubtful whether this will help this party. This certainly doesn’t benefit the country.