Following the provincial election in Baden-Württemberg, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is regrouping after achieving only 5.5 percent support. According to reporting from the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, local federal parliament members Isabel Cademartori and former member Robin Mesarosch plan to run together for the party’s regional leadership. No competing candidates are expected.
Cademartori told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that their decision to jointly seek the state chair position stems from a shared desire to “take a chance on something new”. This move comes after the previous top candidate and state chairman, Andreas Stoch, resigned from his post.
With Cademartori and Mesarosch, the Baden-Württemberg SPD aims not only to become younger but also more left-leaning and clearer in its policy positions. Cademartori stated, “A five percent result requires more clarity and more sharp focus than when you are a 30 percent party. We have not much left to lose. And we cannot always consider those who might not be fully on board, or whether some local chapter sees things differently. Otherwise, we will fade away”.
Both leaders intend to first overhaul the party’s way of addressing voters and its organizational structure at the state level. Mesarosch remarked, “No one benefits if we keep the structures we are used to, only to end up with three percent next time. There must be a break now”. They also aim to clearly redefine the purpose of the SPD in Baden-Württemberg. “We are not running for a position where we might get seven percent next time” Mesarosch stated. “Our people need to know again what we can change by voting for the SPD. That is the goal”.
Cademartori noted that this sentiment applies nationally as well. “This is not unique to Baden-Württemberg. Our situation is admittedly more dramatic, but the trend nationally unfortunately points in our direction”. She stressed that the SPD cannot rely on things improving simply on their own, making it clear that she intends to guide the national party chapter in matters concerning the state leadership. She concluded by saying, “We are a new generation that wants to take responsibility because we are also dissatisfied with how things have progressed so far”.
