SPD criticism of the traffic light coalition: clear stance against the downward trend

Criticism within the SPD – including the Chancellor – is growing. MP Schäfer sees the party’s existence in danger and the low polls are of his own making. Today’s parliamentary group meeting is likely to also be about countermeasures.

Axel Schäfer is certainly not a particularly important member of parliament, not one from the front row. Nobody who can shape politics in different areas. But he is something like the social democratic conscience of the group. Someone who says things that others don’t yet say.

Schäfer wrote a New Year’s letter to his colleagues in the parliamentary group this week ARD capital studio is present. In it, the Bochum SPD representative quotes the Bochum musician Herbert Grönemeyer. In the song “Der Weg” Grönemeyer wrote: “We tried to turn around on the drive. Nothing was too late.” Schäfer writes that this is exactly the task in the traffic light coalition. Things are going downhill.

“Own mistakes in government action”

The SPD, the government and democracy as a whole are under enormous pressure. In current surveys, the German Social Democrats are getting around eleven percentage points less than in the 2021 election. There are reasons for this, and they are mainly of their own making. According to Schäfer, the blame for this is essentially the “own mistakes in government action”, the “open daily disputes at traffic lights”, and the “questioning of compromises that had just been made between three partners.”

People in Germany are fundamentally satisfied with their own lives, but this satisfaction is offset by a “hardly comprehensible dissatisfaction” with government policy.

Schäfer sees the existence of the SPD in danger

Schäfer says what more and more SPD MPs are thinking. The party’s existence is in danger again. Frustration over the poor perception of the SPD’s government work is now often great among the party’s members of the Bundestag. They report in internal meetings that the anger of the people in the constituencies can now be clearly felt. Dissatisfaction is growing.

The right strategy is discussed internally in chat groups. Criticism of the Chancellor is now widespread again. First and foremost, the comrades are frustrated with the behavior of the coalition partners FDP and Greens. For example, it cannot be the case that the SPD is crushed in disputes between the Greens and the FDP.

People are angry that compromises that have been made are often quickly called into question. A current example is Christian Lindner’s move away from the budget compromise. Everyone needs to finally pull together. If everything is always questioned, nothing will happen in the next two years.

Direct criticism of Chancellor Scholz

But the criticism is also directed against the Chancellor. His propagated style of always discussing everything internally does not suit the undisciplined coalition partners. There is also frustration in the group that important decisions are always made in the group of three people made up of Scholz, Habeck and Lindner. This can no longer be communicated, especially in budget policy. The Bundestag has the right to budget.

The Chancellor often has to be carried hunting. There is a lack of empathy, good communication and orientation. People need to be better integrated. For example, why wasn’t there a farmers’ summit? In the end it all only benefits the populists. You hear that when you talk to group members.

Meeting between MPs and Scholz

The Chancellor is likely to hear some of this today. An internal consultation is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Only members of parliament, not employees, are admitted. You want to discuss things in as small a circle as possible. As far as that goes, with a total of 207 MPs.

The title of the agenda item: “Outlook for the second half of the legislative period. Conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.” Two and a half hours are scheduled for this debate. Afterwards we go to the faction evening at an event location in the Prenzlauer Berg district.

Finally, praise for the traffic lights

But the mood in the group is not completely at rock bottom. The coalition’s successes are repeatedly referred to in discussions: minimum wage, citizens’ benefit, the reaction to high inflation. The traffic lights are actually right for the country. It just sells itself short.

That’s why many people agree with Axel Schäfer’s picture. At the end of his letter he also defines in more detail what he means by “turning on the run”. This is an image from alpine sports: you have to edge your skis to change direction. A clear edge is therefore necessary in order to counteract the downward trend. In addition to the MPs, Schäfer probably also means the SPD Chancellor.