Overview
- Wilke formally became an SPD member last Friday, according to SPD general secretary Kurt Fischer, and the party confirmed the move on Tuesday.
- SPD parliamentary leader Björn Lüttmann said Wilke has also joined the SPD group in the Landtag and was warmly welcomed by its members.
- Wilke said he wants to strengthen government reliability, citing uncertainty among others in current state politics.
- He served 24 years with Die Linke before leaving in 2024 and was appointed interior minister in May 2025 after Katrin Lange’s resignation.
- Observers have long viewed Wilke as a possible successor to Minister-President Dietmar Woidke, though SPD leaders say no succession race is underway and Woidke plans to serve out the term.