SPD goes belly up

"The house that Willy Brandt built is going up in flames," notes Frankfurter Rundschau in its report on in-fighting that has broken out in the social-democrat SPD in the wake of the party's historic defeat in general elections on 27 September. Initially, the SPD announced that it would "follow an ordered procedure in the coming weeks" to settle ideological and personal differences. But, as the daily notes, this plan has come a cropper. A few hours after the results were announced, the party's candidate for chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, declared his intention to lead the opposition in parliament, and it is now certain that he will do so. On 28 September, the current party leader, Franz Müntefering, announced that he would step down, and would support Steinmeier's bid to become his successor. However, the SPD federation in Berlin is demanding a complete overhaul of the party leadership, which would exclude both Steinmeier and Müntefering from key roles in the future. As the daily remarks, the contest has been announced and the future candidates are pushing and shoving. Chief among these is the outgoing Environment Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, a.k.a. "Siggi Pop," who is considered to be competent and hardworking, and is also the best orator in the new generation. He will be seconded by Andrea Nahles, the youthful figurehead of the left wing of the party, who has already proven abilities, but also has a reputation as a "hatchet woman."