A doctoral student in sociology and a graduate administrator? Or a lawyer and criminal defense attorney with a long TV show past? This Saturday, at an online party conference, it will be decided who will lead the Munich SPD into the future. The previous chairwoman, Claudia Thousand, is stepping down from her position after a good seven years, two men want to follow her: Christian Köning and Christian Vorländer.
Both sit on the city council, Köning, 33, is spokesman for financial policy, Vorländer, 48, deputy leader of the SPD. Köning was chairman of the Munich Jusos from 2018 to 2021, Vorländer is known to the public for his appearances as a television lawyer between 2002 and 2016, especially in the program “Richter Alexander Hold”. The two will follow the party conference on the screen, along with the 120 or so delegates, Koening in his apartment in Neuhausen, Vorländer in his office in Schwabing, because of the more stable internet connection.
If you ask around in the party, Koening is given slightly better chances, but there is also talk of a close race. Vorländer is credited with having a greater impact on urban society, while Köning is considered a diligent party worker. Both applicants have introduced themselves to the comrades in two digital rounds in the past few weeks and promoted their ideas.
Köning focused on the SPD’s ability to campaign. As Juso boss and last autumn, he showed that he could inspire and take members with him, he says. At the time, his wife Seija Knorr-Köning was a candidate for the Bundestag in western Munich. It is an open secret that she would like to succeed Claudia Millennium as a member of parliament in the future.
Christian Vorländer, 48, also emphasizes that he can campaign, which he proved above all as a candidate for the Bundestag in 2009 and 2013. He scored an impressive 28.4 percent both times in the south of Munich, Sebastian Roloff only got 19.7 percent there last year.
Both exude enthusiasm for the task. You joined the SPD as a teenager, Vorländer in 1989, Köning in 2005. Both describe themselves as people who are good at bringing other people together – and are also described as such by others. And both have rallied support teams around them.
Köning’s team includes the third mayor Verena Dietl, head of the housing department Gerhard Mayer, trade unionist Stefanie Krammer and the chairman of the SPD in Pasing, Raoul Köther. Juso boss Benedict Lang is also in favor of Köning, and above all he emphasizes his ability to work in a team. Now is the right time for the SPD to develop and sharpen a profile, he sees the right candidate for this in Köning.
Vorländer’s supporters include former mayor Christine Strobl, former state parliamentarian Isabell Zacharias, BMW works council member Erol Akbulut and the city’s interfaith commissioner Marian Offman. Strobl, for example, sees a head start in Vorländer thanks to his long time on the city council; he approaches people openly and shows a clear edge even when it comes to difficult issues, for example he spoke out in favor of compulsory vaccination early on.
The fact that the party has to be more and better visible to the outside world, to go into the neighborhoods, to be approachable – which was heard from the SPD after many lost elections, is also the goal of the two candidates for the presidency. He wants to “do everything to ensure that the SPD becomes number one in Munich again,” says Vorländer.
Of course, even Köning does not want to be satisfied with the status quo as a third force. Whoever wins the race: The 2023 state election will be the first test for the new SPD leader. The biggest task for him is the search for a mayor candidate for the local elections in 2026, when Dieter Reiter is no longer running.
A circle around Köning has drawn up a paper for the upcoming challenges, entitled: “A city for everyone”. It should be a working basis for the Munich SPD of the future, the previous board will present it to the party conference this Saturday for discussion.
The last time there was a city councilor as head of Munich’s SPD was in the 1990s. That means there was a city councilor at the time who led the party: Ingrid Anker. How do the two applicants see the possible double role? “Deeply relaxed,” says Köning, and he considers the discussion about separating the party and parliamentary group to be “absurd.” Positions would be developed in the party, and the parliamentary group would be responsible for implementation. But she doesn’t rule the city alone – and vice versa, the party has to think far beyond the town hall.
His competitor Vorländer also wants to “remain on the city council with heart and soul” if he is elected. The party chairmanship is a “mammoth task” for which he would free up a lot of time. He would give up his position as deputy group leader.