SPD leader in early start: Esken does not rule out early resignation

The SPD suffered a debacle on election Sunday. The two party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken are still in office. Esken takes credit for "the fact that the SPD stands together." However, she is no longer ruling out resigning.

After her party's historically poor election result, Saskia Esken has not ruled out an early resignation as SPD chairwoman. "I can't rule something like that out either, because such discussions take place again and again," she said in ntv's Frühstart. The office of party chairwoman is a very honorable one, but also a temporary one, like any other public elected office.

"I also know that I am a member of the Bundestag for one legislative term and I have to be clear that I can also have a different future," said Esken. That's just how it is in politics. "But I say quite clearly: I have made a significant contribution so far to ensuring that the SPD stands together. And I would like to continue to do so. And I will also work to make it possible."

The SPD has not yet received an invitation from the Union for exploratory talks. "I am waiting for a call from Friedrich Merz to say when we will begin exploratory talks. Then we will discuss whether we should enter into them."

Skepticism regarding the special fund decision in the old Bundestag

Esken is skeptical about a quick decision on a new special fund for defense with the old Bundestag. "Because I think it is difficult to explain to voters that new and old majorities should now be exploited so strategically," said the SPD chairwoman. "Instead, we should make sure that we find majorities for a good path in our country as a whole," she added, alluding to the reform of the debt brake demanded by the SPD.

The SPD is prepared to better equip the Bundeswehr. However, Esken said, they believe that investments in infrastructure are also needed. "We have collapsing bridges and clear indications from the railways that something needs to be done, that housing needs to be built, that the plaster is crumbling from the ceilings in schools." That is why an overall concept needs to be discussed.

The background to the debate is that a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat is required for both a reform of the debt brake anchored in the Basic Law and the establishment of a new special fund. In the newly elected Bundestag, however, the AfD and the Left have a blocking minority; after the constituent session of the new Bundestag in March, the Union, SPD and Greens would have to rely on votes from the Left faction or the AfD to amend the Basic Law. A two-thirds majority is required for a new special fund, an increase in the existing special fund and a reform of the debt brake.

The Left has already announced that it is open to reforms in favour of investments, but not in favour of defence spending. It is therefore possible that the Bundestag could still make decisions in its old composition.