German SPD Taps Scholz Ally, Plays Down Coalition Talks ‘Wobble’
- General secretary Klingbeil was architect of election triumph
- Appointment strengthens Scholz’s hold over party’s agenda
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Germany’s Social Democrats nominated one of the main architects of their victory in September’s election to take over as party co-leader, and played down suggestions that their goal of forming a new government by early December is at risk.
Top SPD officials meeting in Berlin Monday proposed Lars Klingbeil, general secretary since 2017 and a close ally of chancellor-in-waiting Olaf Scholz, to join Saskia Esken as co-leader. Incumbent Norbert Walter-Borjans has decided to step aside and Klingbeil’s nomination -- which strengthens Scholz’s hold over the party and its agenda -- will be rubber-stamped at a Dec. 10-12 congress in the German capital.