GOVERNING IN THE „TURNING POINT“
ROBERT MISIK IN CONVERSATION WITH LARS KLINGBEIL
GOVERNING IN THE "TURNING POINT"
Since the end of last year, Olaf Scholz has led the German government of SPD, Greens and FDP as Federal Chancellor. One of the main architects of the coalition - and of the election success that brought the SPD into first place - was Lars Klingbeil as SPD Secretary General. He did a great deal to give the previously shaken Social Democrats a direction and to keep the most important people in the party leadership together. After the coalition was formed, Klingbeil moved to the top of the party. Together with Saskia Esken, he forms the top duo of party leaders.
The election victory was won on the theme of „respect“, the promise to once again be the advocate of ordinary people. In a complicated three-party coalition, however, it will certainly not be easy to set striking cornerstones. As if that wasn't challenge enough, the government agreement is practically a waste of time, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not only brought the large-scale war back to Europe and destroyed the previous security architecture. The economic prospects are unclear. Europe must free itself from its energy dependency on Russia. Companies are experiencing difficulties. Inflation is shooting up.
What is a social democratic policy under these circumstances? What will it cost us to defend the democratic way of life against a new imperial challenge? What are the prospects for a future social democratic foreign policy? A „containment“ of Russia, as in the worst days of the Cold War? What could a progressive peace policy be? We discuss all these questions with the new SPD chairman.
Lars Klingbeil, Federal Chairman of the SPD
Robert Misik, Author and journalist
Lars Klingbeil (born 23 February 1978 in Soltau) studied political science, sociology and history at the University of Hanover. Alongside his studies, he worked from 2001 to 2003 in the constituency office of Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Member of the Bundestag Heino Wiese. He was a member of Munster town council from 2001 to 2016 and was a board member of the SPD district of northern Lower Saxony from 2002 to 2021, serving as deputy district chairman from 2010. After completing his studies, he worked as a youth education officer for the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia from 2004 to 2005. From 2003 to 2007 he was one of the deputy national chairmen of the Jusos and from 2004 to 2007 a member of the International Commission of the SPD party executive.
From December 2017 to December 2021, Klingbeil was Secretary General of the SPD and from May 2003 to November 2007 one of the deputy federal chairmen of the Jusos. He has been a member of the German Bundestag since October 2009, having previously been a member from January to October 2005.
Since December 2021, he has been one of the two federal chairpersons of the SPD together with Saskia Esken.
Klingbeil is a member of the Seeheimer Kreis, which brings together the conservative wing of the SPD parliamentary group. He was a member of the Parliamentary Left until 2015.