Düsseldorf
A majority of MPs does not want the SPD parliamentary group to be led by dual leadership in the future.
The SPD parliamentary group still does not know who will lead them in Thomas Kutschaty’s place in the future, but on Tuesday they made it clear in which constellation a new leadership is excluded: With a large majority, the SPD parliamentary deputies gave the option of a ” Doppelspitze” a rejection. The idea found only 18 supporters, 34 faction members voted against.
The SPD parliamentary group is looking for a successor for the still incumbent chairman Thomas Kutschaty. The Essen resident initially resigned as chairman of the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia in March as a result of controversial personal details and ongoing internal party criticism. Shortly thereafter, Kuchaty announced that he would also resign as chairman of the state parliamentary group as soon as a new leader was elected.
A successor will be elected on May 23
A spokesman reported after the faction meeting of a “good and constructive debate”. For about two hours, the MPs dealt with the question of whether it makes sense to divide the leadership of the parliamentary group between two heads, whether opposition work would be more visible with a dual leadership and what advantages would a single person at the top have. In the end, a change in the rules of procedure was rejected with a clear majority.
A successor to Thomas Kutschaty is expected to be elected on May 23. This is a historic date for the SPD, because on May 23, 1863, Ferdinand Lassalle founded the General German Workers’ Association and thus the SPD. Potential candidates for the parliamentary group chair should contact Kuchaty between May 6 and 16, it said on Tuesday. 29 of the 56 faction votes are required for a victory.
At a “strategy meeting” in Münster on May 6th, the NRW-SPD wants to clarify together with federal, state and local politicians how they want to position themselves in the future. Questions of content and personnel should then be clarified by a state party conference on August 26th.
State party can still opt for a “dual leadership”.
Despite the fact that the parliamentary group said no to a dual leadership, the NRW-SPD could still decide to split the presidency in the future and introduce the option for a dual leadership consisting of a man and a woman. This would require a change in the statutes, which the delegates would have to vote on with a two-thirds majority at the party conference on August 26.
If there are candidates for a dual leadership, it would have to be agreed beforehand whether the dual leadership option is also desired on that day. Only then can the candidates stand for election. The procedure is therefore complicated and makes candidacies difficult.
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