GERMANY: German Social Democrats look for new start

Record ID: 588931

  • Title: GERMANY: German Social Democrats look for new start
  • Date: 29th September 2009
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 28, 2009) (REUTERS) INTERIOR ARRIVAL HEAD OF GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SPD) FRANZ MUENTEFERING APPROACHING PODIUM PARTY MEMBERS LISTENING VARIOUS OF MUENTEFERING TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SPD) FRANZ MUENTEFERING, SAYING: "As far as staff constellations are concerned, we have been talking about who is responsible for what has been happening and who can help how to re-shuffle. Decisions will be made very soon. I have made it clear that, as head of the party, I am aware of my responsibility for the situation we are in. But I think it would be wrong to run away and say, I am taking everything upon my shoulders, look how you deal with. I'd rather help for us to sensibly position ourselves for the weeks and months ahead." JOURNALISTS LISTENING PARTY MEMBERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SPD) FRANZ MUENTEFERING, SAYING: "General opinion was, it was not down to the candidate, it was not down to the actual rallying, we left nothing out. The secret lies within the time before, the past eleven or four years, in the constellations we have and the subjects." VARIOUS OF MUENTEFERING TALKING PARTY MEMBERS ON BALCONIES
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7YP85KCMLBYXW2ETYJFJFRUQ7
  • Story Text: Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is likely to look to its left wing for inspiration as it seeks a fresh start after suffering its worst election defeat of the postwar era.
    The SPD's share of the vote slumped more than 11 points to 23 percent in Sunday's (September 27) federal election, sending the centre-left party into opposition for the first time in 11 years and prompting calls for a shake-up at the top. Franz Muentefering, head of the SPD, on Monday signaled he might be prepared to step down.
    "As far as staff constellations are concerned, we have been talking about who is responsible for what has been happening and who can help how to re-shuffle" Muentefering told a crowded news conference. "Decisions will be made very soon. I have made it clear that, as head of the party, I am aware of my responsibility for the situation we are in. But I think it would be wrong to run away and say, I am taking everything upon my shoulders, look how you deal with. I'd rather help for us to sensibly position ourselves for the weeks and months ahead."
    The SPD's debacle has given conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel the chance to form a centre-right government with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP), creating two distinct camps in parliament.
    The defeat was the culmination of a steady migration in support from Germany's oldest party towards the Greens and, in particular, the more radical Die Linke (The Left) party, fronted by ex-SPD leader Oskar Lafontaine.
    Splits opened up between the SPD and its traditional blue collar base over welfare cuts carried out when it held power under ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. When he narrowly lost to Merkel in 2005, his party was forced into the junior role in a cumbersome right-left "grand coalition".
    For the past four years, the SPD has struggled to set itself apart from Merkel's conservatives, helping the Left and Greens to poll record results on Sunday and giving them together almost as many seats in parliament as the Social Democrats.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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