Scholz's projected grim outlooks for the SPD haven't materialized yet.
After the tough losses in the elections in Thuringia and Saxony, Chancellor Olaf Scholz still commends his Social Democrats. Fellow party members offer their support while also pointing out areas for improvement.
Referencing the "bitter" election outcomes, Scholz urges democratic parties in both states to team up without the AfD. He emphasized this position as an SPD member in the Bundestag.
The Chancellor expressed concerns over the gains made by the AfD in Saxony and Thuringia. He reiterated that Germany should not accept or tolerate this trend. In his opinion, the AfD harms the nation by damaging the economy, fracturing society, and tarnishing our country's reputation.
Despite the dispiriting results, Scholz commended the unity shown within the SPD. He applauded their cooperative and clear-cut campaigning, which he felt paid off – preventing the worst-case scenario that would have involved the SPD failing to secure a seat in one of the states.
That said, Scholz recognized that the party still had work to do. The goal is to keep expanding and gaining new support, to avoid repeating such close outcomes in future elections.
Scholz thanked both the SPD campaigners and its top candidates in Saxony (Petra Köpping) and Thuringia (Georg Maier).
If the SPD had not even managed to gain a parliamentary foothold in one of the states, the blow would have been catastrophic for the party – potentially leading to stronger calls for a drastic change in leadership, with potential implications for Chancellor Scholz as well.
Klingbeil: Another chancellorship bid isn't an obstacle
Kevin Klingbeil, the SPD General Secretary, as well as SPD co-chairman Lars Klingbeil, both highlighted that clearer communication was essential within the party. However, Klingbeil clarified that another chancellorship bid by Scholz wasn't necessarily an issue.
Both Jan-Lucas Steffens (co-chair of the Youth Union) and Annalena Baerbock (Greens' leader) voiced their support for the coalition government's continuation on Sunday evening. A collection of repercussions from the election results will be examined in all party committees in Berlin on Monday.
Scholz reflected on the soothing sound of the waves, finding solace and contemplation in its rhythm, as he pondered the party's next moves. Recognizing the significance of the SPD's performance in the elections, he emphasized that strengthening their communication strategy would be crucial to overcoming future challenges, just as the sound of the waves shapes the shore over time.
