Is Germany moving towards a Grand Coalition?
25 October 2011 _ Michael Miebach
Nerves were raw and tensions were high following the swift break-up of coalition talks between the social democratic SPD and the Green party in the state of Berlin this month. mehr
Eurozone blues
20 September 2011 _ René Cuperus
Pinned down by the eurocrisis, both the social democratic PvdA in the Netherlands and the SPD in Germany are caught in an awkward catch 22-situation. What is going on? mehr
Berlin success inspires quiet confidence
20 September 2011 _ Michael Miebach
After yesterday’s state elections in Berlin, social democratic incumbent mayor Klaus Wowereit is celebrating a dull victory. Despite a positive national trend and high personality ratings for Wowereit, his party lost 2.5 percentage points, obtaining 28.3% of the vote. The hopes among the party’s left wing that the results could raise Wowereit’s chances of becoming the SPD’s candidate for chancellor in 2013 have not been fulfilled. mehr
The old SPD urgently needs new political energy
7 June 2011 _ Michael Miebach
The SPD is hemorrhaging both votes and members to new political actors, yet proposed reforms to a party with an average member age of almost 60 are being met with vehement opposition. mehr
Green success marks SPD failure
8 May 2011 _ Michael Miebach
The significant fall of Merkel's CDU in Baden-Württemberg marked a resounding success for the Green party. How should the SPD respond to this political shift? mehr