The SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany)

The SPD, one of Germany’s oldest parties, rooted in social democracy and workers’ rights, is at a crossroads. In the snap election held yesterday, February 23, 2025, they pulled in roughly 16% of the vote—a steep fall from 25.7% in 2021 and their lowest national result since the 19th century. This followed the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s “traffic light” coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) in November 2024, after Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) was sacked over budget disputes. Scholz called the election after losing a confidence vote, and the SPD’s campaign couldn’t recover from public frustration over economic stagnation, rising energy costs, and coalition infighting.

Key Facts About the SPD:

Founded: 1863, making it one of the oldest political parties in the world.

Political Ideology: Social democracy, center-left policies.

Core Policies:

• Strengthening workers' rights and the welfare state.

• Higher minimum wages and better social security.

• Affordable housing and public healthcare.

• Environmental policies supporting renewable energy.

Progressive taxation and economic redistribution.

Notable Leaders: Willy Brandt, Gerhard Schröder, Olaf Scholz (current German Chancellor).

Recent Government Role: The SPD led Germany under Olaf Scholz after winning the 2021 federal election. It governs in coalition with the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and the FDP (Free Democratic Party)—a combination called the "traffic light coalition" (Ampelkoalition).

Leadership and Direction

Scholz, who led the party since 2021, has bowed out, stating he won’t join the next government. The SPD’s co-leaders, Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, are under pressure to rethink the party’s strategy. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, widely popular for his no-nonsense style, is a rumored contender to steer the ship, though no formal shift has been confirmed as of today. The party’s licking its wounds and aiming to rebuild trust after being blamed for governing chaos.

Policy Stance

In the 2025 campaign, the SPD stuck to its social-democratic guns:

• Economy and Welfare: Pushed for a 15-euro minimum wage (up from 12.41), a 100-billion-euro “Germany Fund” for climate-friendly infrastructure (think green steel and rail), and more rent controls. They also wanted to ease the debt brake—a constitutional limit on borrowing—to fund this.

• Social Justice: Free school meals, expanded child benefits, and a 49-euro Deutschlandticket for nationwide public transport were big promises to ease cost-of-living pressures.

• Foreign Policy: Strong support for Ukraine with military aid and a firm NATO commitment, targeting 2% GDP defense spending.

• Climate: Aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045, with heavy investment in renewables and hydrogen, though less dogmatic than the Greens.

Post-election, these ideas face a reality check. The CDU/CSU, with 28-29%, will likely lead the next government, and the SPD’s eyeing a grand coalition as junior partner. That means their big-spending plans might get trimmed—Merz wants tax cuts and less regulation, not SPD-style state investment. Immigration, where the SPD favors integration and labor migration, could also clash with the CDU/CSU’s hardline deportation push.

What’s Next?

As of today, coalition talks are just kicking off. The SPD’s 16% plus the CDU/CSU’s 28-29% could hit the 45% or so needed for a majority in the Bundestag (exact seat counts are still settling). The alternative—CDU/CSU with the Greens (12%)—is less likely given Bavaria’s CSU hating the idea. For the SPD, this coalition could stabilize them but risks diluting their identity further, especially if they cave on key issues like welfare or climate spending. Meanwhile, the far-right AfD’s 19-20% looms as a warning—the SPD’s lost ground to them among working-class voters.