Leading politicians of the SPD - Woidke only wants to continue if he wins an election
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke ties his political fate in office to a victory for the SPD in the state election. "My goal is to win against the AfD - and if I lose against the AfD, I'm out," said the SPD's top candidate in Potsdam.
Woidke expressed optimism, given high popularity values, that the SPD could win the election in September. The SPD politician is one of the longest-serving government heads in Germany. The successor to Matthias Platzeck has been governing Brandenburg for over ten years.
The goal of a victory is not new, but the link to the 62-year-old's political future. "I won't negotiate with anyone if I end up in second or third place. Then I won't be here - at least not in Brandenburg's state politics," said Woidke.
In polls, the SPD is behind the AfD
In the latest poll by Insa for the "Bild" newspaper from mid-July, the SPD was in second place behind the AfD (24 percent) with 19 percent and just ahead of the CDU (18 percent). The Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (APGS) came in fourth with 17 percent. Shortly before, the SPD was tied with the CDU at 19 percent in a poll by Infratest dimap for RBB, but also behind the AfD with 23 percent.
In terms of satisfaction with top politicians, Woidke came out ahead with 55 percent, compared to CDU top candidate Jan Redmann (16 percent) and AfD top candidate Hans-Christoph Berndt (9 percent). The SPD leader is therefore not relying on polls, but on his popularity. "The people of Brandenburg know me - and that's a crucial asset for the campaign," said Woidke.
The SPD campaign is heavily focused on the state leader. A large poster shows him with the slogan "It's about Brandenburg." On another giant motif, the 1.96-meter-tall Woidke is depicted with the inscription "Brandenburg needs size" - the letters SPD are nowhere to be found. Issues like the economy and security will follow later in the campaign.
The head of government also points to his record over the past years. Brandenburg has developed more successfully than most other states, he said, citing the Medical University of Lusatia, the railway works in Cottbus, and the economic growth that has placed Brandenburg at the forefront of the state comparison in recent years. "I want the people to benefit more and more from the good developments in the state."
The opposition Left faction - the SPD's governing partner from 2009 to 2019 - reacted critically to Woidke's link to victory. "Anyone who genuinely wants to become Minister President must take responsibility, especially in these difficult times for all democratic forces," said the Left faction leader Sebastian Walter. "Not just when the results suit them."
Unlike the election campaign five years ago, the party is focusing on personalization earlier this time. Back then, the SPD performed worse in postal voting than in polling station voting - something they want to avoid this time. Five years ago, the SPD, which has been governing in Brandenburg for 34 years, surprisingly won the election with a clear lead over the AfD. In polls, they had long been behind the AfD.
Given the poor SPD poll results at the federal level, the Brandenburg Social Democrats are not counting on visits from Chancellor Olaf Scholz or other celebrities. "We don't need borrowed prominence from other federal states or the federal level," said Woidke.
The Commission has stated its support for Woidke's goal of a victory for the SPD in the state election. Despite the SPD being behind the AfD in polls, Woidke is confident about winning due to his high popularity values.
