SPD politicians back Andrea Nahles

Before a closed meeting of SPD leaders in Berlin, the political leaders of the major parties spoke out against staff disputes, defending President Andrea Nahles. "The SPD has always created power and personnel problems over the last 15 years, and what we have is what we are living today," said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

At the two-day closed meeting, the heavy defeats in the general elections in Bavaria and Hesse need to be corrected. Nahles and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz are under pressure to strengthen the party. Therefore, the meeting will also focus on how the SPD can gain more visibility in the grand coalition.

Nahles wants to push the pressure of some party parties to push forward the party convention and the elections scheduled for the end of 2019 – and so decide in advance of their future and that of the Grand Coalition. Among others, Juso CEO Kevin Kühnert had argued for a preference. The Schleswig-Holstein SPD decided Saturday night at a state conference in Kiel to demand a special party.

"Highlight the profile as a party of the leftist people"

Foreign Minister Maas said about the impending staff debate that he hoped this time it would be different, otherwise nothing would be better. Above all, the SPD needs more self-confidence than self-employment, more attitude than procrastination, and because of the desire for their own demise, no one has yet been elected. "

SPD Federal Vice-President Ralf Stegner also warned against a staff debate. The party must rely on the work and clearly explain what the SPD represents. "Good governance is not enough, you can say the same," said Stegner. Beyond this, the SPD needs to refine itself as a left-wing popular party. It was necessary to clearly define what the party was defending and why citizens should vote for the SPD. Then the party must also deliver. Last Stegner had strongly criticized the state of the coalition and doubted its existence, should not change.

"In opposition, you can not implement anything"

From the point of view of SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil, the party itself attributed its weakness. "It has nothing to do with Angela Merkel or the Union," he told Welt am Sonntag. "The SPD is strong if it is a courageous and optimistic party." It was up to her to position herself thematically so clearly that everyone could see what she was defending.

For his part, SPD Vice President Malu Dreyer clearly supported the continuation of the coalition. Although you had to compromise in a coalition, she said "Bild am Sonntag". "Nevertheless, we can not translate by opposition."

Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel warned of the decline of his party in insignificance. "You can prevent that, it's not automatic, but you have to realistically see that it can happen," Gabriel told the dpa news agency. "It takes a lot of effort to prevent that."

Nahles wants to meet the previous schedule with the party congress at the end of 2019. "We need time until next year, if we want to get it right, now that everything is absurd, c & rsquo; Is insane, "she said in an interview with the" Süddeutsche Zeitung ". She had also defended her work as party leader.