Overview
- Hikel, who also co-chairs the Berlin SPD, said he lacked broad support after receiving 68.5% in a Neukölln SPD nomination vote.
- He told Tagesspiegel he was “the wrong candidate” for the district and could not campaign authentically on that result.
- The local nomination meeting in Neukölln was aborted after his announcement that he would not run again in 2026.
- Designated lead candidate Steffen Krach said he expects strong backing at Saturday’s Landesparteitag.
- Analysis in taz says the withdrawal casts a shadow over the planned vote and could intensify questions about the current leadership and energize younger and left factions.