As of: 03/27/2022 11:07 p.m
The Saar election winner Rehlinger is already networked, popular and in demand in the SPD. It could become even more important in the future. In doing so, she benefits from her good relationship with the chancellor, who thinks in a similar way to her.
In terms of area, Saarland is as large as Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg and half of Ibiza combined. However, it has fewer than a million inhabitants. Nevertheless, the election has implications for federal politics.
This was already the case in 2017, when Martin Schulz’s election campaign stalled with the Saarland elections. For the SPD, the state elections in Saarland had an impact on federal politics in the past. This will probably also be the case after this election.
Rehlinger’s good connection to the Chancellery
The balance of power in the federal SPD could easily change. Anke Rehlinger is already deputy party leader. Unlike the other prime ministers of the SPD, she was elected to the party’s presidium. There she can appear with even more self-confidence and weight in the future. When it comes to contentious issues, there is probably no getting around Minister President Rehlinger. In the party, Rehlinger is popular with members of all wings.
In the election for deputy party leader last year, she got the best result of all deputies. That already makes her a sought-after mediator when the SPD is looking for compromises that the whole party can support.
For this reason, she was already often involved in federal political decisions: for example in the preparation of the federal government’s relief package. Her good connection to the Chancellery will certainly help her in this. During the election campaign, Rehlinger pointed out that she could call the Federal Chancellor at any time and did not have to make an appointment. Accordingly, Olaf Scholz called her early on Sunday evening to congratulate her on the election victory.
Closed like never before
The future Prime Minister could be an even more important supporter for the Chancellor. Politically, Scholz and Rehlinger are similar: pragmatic and centered. At the moment, however, Scholz does not need this extra support at all.
Despite the great challenges, the SPD is more closed than ever. However, Rehlinger could shake up the power structure among the SPD prime ministers. As the next head of government in Saarland, she could also become the face of the party nationwide. So far, the SPD has provided seven prime ministers. Now Rehlinger is the fourth woman. Overall, half of the German federal states will soon be led by a Social Democrat.
This will also be important for traffic light policy. With the further SPD government, the coalition in Berlin could get more support in the Bundesrat. There, a Saarland state government would no longer have to abstain from voting on laws of the traffic light coalition. However, the traffic light in the Bundesrat still does not have its own majority.
SPD wants change of power in Kiel and Düsseldorf
That is why the SPD hopes to be able to defeat the incumbent governments in the elections in North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. Of course, the result of the Saar-SPD is seen in the party as a signal to the election campaigners in these countries. There will be elections next May.
In North Rhine-Westphalia in particular, the SPD also sees chances of a change of government. The Saarland election winner Rehlinger tweeted on Sunday evening: The result in Saarland is also a signal to Kiel and Düsseldorf. The change is possible.