New SPD leadership.
On December 6, members of the co-ruling Social Democrats (SPD) elected Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans as their new leaders. Both are sceptical of the grand coalition with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and could bring about its dissolution. While a motion to leave the government was rejected at the SPD’s party congress on December 6-8, the new leaders want to shift policy to the left and renegotiate the coalition pact with the CDU.
The SPD’s shift to the left increases its chances of winning back voters who supported extremes on the left and right in recent elections.
The new leadership won a narrow victory on low turnout, which might diminish the leadership’s internal legitimacy.
Increasing confrontation between the SPD and CDU could see the support of both parties rise in the polls.
The Greens would be reluctant to join a CDU-led coalition if the SPD leaves government, fearing that this would damage its election hopes.
