In a significant development for German politics, Kevin Kühnert, the general secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has announced his resignation due to health concerns. This move comes at a critical juncture, just one year before the next national election scheduled for September 2025, adding to the challenges faced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party.
Kühnert, aged 35, has been a prominent figure in the SPD since late 2021, serving as the party's general secretary responsible for day-to-day political strategy. His departure marks a setback for the SPD, Germany's oldest existing political party, founded in 1863. The party, which has been part of the German government for 34 of the past 55 years, is currently grappling with declining poll ratings and recent electoral disappointments.
The SPD, under Scholz's leadership, secured a narrow victory in the 2021 national election. However, since then, the party's popularity has waned significantly. The current "traffic light coalition" government, comprising the SPD, Greens, and Free Democrats (FDP), has been criticized for internal discord, affecting public perception.
Kühnert's political journey has been notable. As a former head of the SPD's youth organization, Jusos, he led an unsuccessful campaign in early 2018 against the party joining Angela Merkel's final coalition government. This stance highlighted the often more left-wing position of Jusos compared to the main party.
In his resignation letter, Kühnert emphasized the need for party members to excel in the upcoming election campaign. He stated, "I myself cannot surpass myself at the moment, because unfortunately I am not healthy," indicating that his decision was driven by the need to focus on his well-being.
This resignation is not an isolated incident in German politics. Recently, the co-leaders of the Greens announced their stepping down following disappointing election results. These changes reflect the dynamic nature of German political leadership, where parties often have co-leaders to balance representation.
The SPD faces significant challenges ahead of the 2025 election. In the June 2024 European Parliament election and recent state elections in eastern Germany, the party finished behind the conservative opposition Union bloc and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). These results underscore the shifting political landscape in Germany, particularly in the eastern regions which have distinct political trends compared to western Germany.
Germany's political system, characterized by its mixed electoral system combining first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation, presents unique challenges for parties. The SPD, traditionally strong in industrial areas and large cities, must navigate this complex electoral terrain while addressing internal party dynamics and coalition politics.
As the SPD prepares for the upcoming national election, it faces the task of reinvigorating its appeal to voters. The party's history of producing influential chancellors like Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt, and Gerhard Schröder stands in contrast to its current struggles. The concept of "Volkspartei" or people's party, which has been central to German politics, is being tested as the political landscape becomes more fragmented.
The current Bundestag, with 736 members, reflects the complexity of German democracy. As one of the largest democratic parliaments in the world, it serves as the arena where the SPD and other parties must navigate their political futures.
"For the foreseeable future, I need the energy that is necessary for my officer and an election campaign to get healthy again. So I am drawing the consequences."
As the SPD searches for Kühnert's successor, the party faces the challenge of maintaining unity and presenting a compelling vision to the German electorate. The outcome of this transition and the party's performance in the 2025 election will be crucial in shaping the future of German politics and the role of the SPD within it.