Brandenburg’s Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has taken an uncompromising stance against his own party, arguing that there is a “loss of trust” in the SPD among the working population. In an interview with the “Welt” Wednesday edition, he said, “The SPD national leadership finally has to address this issue in depth. The working people, the middle of society, must once again be recognized as having the competence to solve the country’s problems”.
Woidke added that he was shocked not only by the SPD’s overall result in last year’s federal election but also by the fact that only twelve percent of workers voted for the SPD. He noted that in Baden-Württemberg the percentage was even lower, at just 4.5 percent. “We must plainly admit: ‘Yes, we made mistakes. We need to bring workers back into the center of our focus,'” he said.
The minister also called for a complete realignment of Germany’s energy policy. He stressed that lowering energy costs should be a priority, and criticized the current policy of the black‑red coalition as inadequate. “Let’s be honest: everything we have so far relies on subsidies. We should speak that word aloud. I am pleased with the measures that have been announced, but they do not reduce costs; they merely keep final prices artificially low. That is not sustainable” Woidke explained.
He urged urgent systemic changes, noting that Germany has the highest electricity prices in Europe and that this cannot continue. He expressed full agreement with CDU economy minister Katrin Reiche, who highlighted how difficult reforms in the energy sector can be because many have become accustomed to the high-income returns from premium prices. “Energy‑producing plants should be built where the electricity is needed” Woidke said. “And the plants being constructed today must produce usable electricity-not just install capacity”.
