A leading figure from the left wing of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has cautioned against repeating the perceived mistakes of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s “Agenda 2010” social reforms as the party prepares to address current social policy challenges. Ralf Stegner, in comments to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, warned that a similar approach would be detrimental.
Stegner argued that the 2010 reforms resulted in significant losses for the SPD among its traditional voter base, stemming from what he characterized as a perception that those receiving social benefits were unfairly blamed for their circumstances. He described this approach as disrespectful, alongside what he saw as a dismissive attitude towards internal criticism. He emphasized that any positive reception the reforms received came from undesirable sources.
The SPD, Stegner asserted, must learn from this experience. While acknowledging the necessity of reforms and potential cuts, he stressed the importance of ensuring fairness. He warned that fostering a sense of injustice or creating anxieties about social decline would pose an existential threat to the party. Stegner cautioned against either emphasizing austerity measures or portraying the SPD solely as a party reliant on social welfare transfers, asserting its core identity remains rooted in supporting working people.
To effectively communicate its policies, Stegner called for clear and accessible language, a move away from what he termed “demeaning rhetoric” and a passionate presentation of its vision. He underscored that sustainably funding a robust social security system hinges on solid collective bargaining agreements and equitable wages for workers.
