SPEED - Ronja Endres will align the compass of the Bavarian SPD anew
After Florian von Brunn's resignation as SPD chairman in Bavaria, Ronja Endres will realign the compass of the Social Democrats. "I have been closely observing the party for the past three years and have great ideas that should now end in a new strategy," she told the German Press Agency in Munich.
She did not want to name any details without consultation with the executive board yet, Endres emphasized. But something positive should be expected for the party conference in October. "I will certainly make my mark there as well," she added. Working in a co-leadership role had brought her a lot of fun. However, this also meant making compromises. "I will therefore do things differently now that I am alone," she stated.
Endres has been a member of the SPD since 2008 and has been the chairman of the Bavarian SPD since April 2021, sharing leadership with von Brunn, who, due to his mandate in the state parliament, increasingly took center stage and was also the SPD's candidate for the state election. On Sunday, von Brunn announced that he would step down as SPD chairman in Bavaria on Monday afternoon.
It is important for the party to now draw a line under personnel debates and return to substantive politics. "People want us to focus on a more social policy, affordable rents, and addressing their concerns, the interests of workers," Endres said.
Regarding the disputes about her former co-chairman Brunn, Endres expressed mixed feelings: "It's a shame that he has stopped. I value him as a politician and a person very much." However, it is also important for the party now that "white smoke" has been raised and the party can move forward with a functioning executive committee.
"Now we can focus on pulling together, hooking each other," Endres said. This is especially important in situations where things haven't gone smoothly. She sees the past years in the Bavarian SPD as anything but easy. "We love to discuss a lot because our members come from all different areas of society."
She does not fear that the latest crisis may have damaged the SPD's support base. "It's not about Ronja Endres, it's about our party." Perhaps it's even a good sign that someone at the helm doesn't want to personally profile themselves. "I'm good at bringing people together, that's one of my strengths." However, it is clear that the trust vote she received in the executive board election in 2023 will have to be paid back.
She has no immediate plans to involve herself in federal politics and the ailing SPD. "I will concentrate fully on Bavaria, where I want to achieve something."
After completing her studies, Endres worked as a political advisor in Berlin and Munich and was active with the German Trade Union Federation and the IG Bergbau, Chemistry, Energy. Since 2019, she has been the chairwoman of the Working Group for Employee Issues (AfA) in the Bavarian SPD.
Although Endres received one of the best results in the party's history in the previous year's executive board election with 89.9%, this did not save her from the Wahl-Regensburg candidate's disappointment. Originally, she had wanted to run in the European election, but her own party base prevented her candidacy in the fall of the previous year.
- Ronja Endres, who will take over as the sole chairperson of the SPD in Bavaria following Florian von Brunn's resignation, has been a member of the party since 2008.
- Endres expressed mixed feelings about von Brunn stepping down, appreciating him as a politician and a person, but also seeing it as an opportunity for the party to move forward.
- The German Press Agency in Munich reported that Endres, who has been the co-chair of the Bavarian SPD since April 2021, has been closely observing the party and has great ideas for a new strategy.
- Von Brunn, due to his mandate in the state parliament, had been a significant figure in the party and the SPD's candidate for the state election, which took place on Sunday.
- Endres stated that it's important for the party to focus on substantive issues like social policy, affordable rents, and addressing the concerns of workers post-personnel debates.
- After completing her studies, Endres worked as a political advisor in Berlin and Munich and was involved with various organizations, including the German Trade Union Federation and the IG Bergbau, Chemistry, Energy.
