SPD candidacy for chancellor: decision against all political reason – and yet the right one

The quarrels in the SPD are over. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius decided not to run for chancellor, as he explained to party members in a video message on Thursday evening. In doing so, he clears the way for Olaf Scholz to run for chancellor, whom Pistorius seriously describes as a strong and outstanding chancellor.

The discussion about the candidate question, which he did not want to initiate, had damaged the SPD, said Pistorius. He wants his withdrawal to be seen as a contribution to ending this debate and closing ranks behind Scholz again.

Given the tricky situation the SPD has put itself in, Pistorius’ decision is logical – and long overdue. Because his candidacy would probably have caused more damage within the party and also for himself than it would have brought about the salvation that some Social Democrats were already dreaming of.

Yes, the survey results speak for themselves. Pistorius is currently Germany’s most popular politician, while Scholz has fallen to last place. Pistorius is well received by many citizens, politicians and journalists, while Scholz has not overcome his inability to communicate even after more than three years as chancellor. Scholz represents a failed, deeply polarizing traffic light, while Pistorius simply did a good job.

Nevertheless, it is a fallacy to derive a guarantee of success for Pistorius from this. A good defense minister does not have to be a good chancellor. Those who trade high can fall low. This is what happened to Martin Schulz, who was first cheered as the SPD’s candidate for chancellor in 2017 and then literally written off.

A risk that Pistorius certainly did not want to take. All the less since he only had a few weeks until the federal election to succeed as the new top candidate.

With Pistorius as candidate for chancellor, the SPD would have struggled to continue to credibly represent its peace agenda. The war in Ukraine has just reached a new level of escalation. It would not only have been difficult for the SPD to convey to the outside world where their so often proclaimed prudence was if they were now sending a candidate into the race who wanted to make Germany “capable of war”. Even within our own ranks, the issue of peace continues to create identity. It is not without reason that Pistorius is now appealing to the unity of his comrades.

A lesson not just for social democrats

Relying on Scholz as the candidate for chancellor defies any calculation or any political reason, as long as one can still assume that the SPD really has an interest in winning the election. But in the current situation, she has little choice but to stick to her current course if Scholz doesn’t give up on his candidacy of his own accord. But that wasn’t to be expected, and so Scholz will also have to accept the election defeat, which will probably be the fate of the SPD if a political miracle doesn’t happen.

The party leaders have failed in this situation. They were unable to stop the chaos and strife within their own ranks. The damage has already been done, the SPD is worse off than ever before. However, this should not only be a lesson for the Social Democrats.

Citizens are tired of watching the parties continue to bicker, poison and dismantle each other even after the coalition has broken down. Germany is currently not experiencing prosperous times and cannot afford the luxury of self-referential politicians. The global political situation could hardly be more dramatic since Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States. There is war in Europe.

The country needs a government that can act. It is high time that the protagonists of the broken traffic light coalition also recognize the seriousness of the situation if they are now going into the election campaign in an overly contentious manner.

Political editor Hannah Bethke At WELT he is primarily responsible for the SPD and domestic political issues.