Overview
- Hikel received about 68.5% support in the Neukölln SPD’s Spitzenkandidat vote and said the outcome did not provide sufficient momentum for a new campaign.
- The district assembly was halted immediately after his announcement, and SPD Neukölln plans to reconvene and present a new top team before year’s end.
- Juso and party-left delegates criticized Hikel over high-profile appearances with police against clan crime and his refusal to use the term “anti-Muslim racism.”
- Hikel has led Neukölln since 2018 and co-chairs the Berlin SPD, with local leaders expressing regret and scheduling a crisis meeting to map next steps.
- Coverage frames the episode as escalating the party’s internal direction fight and raising electoral risks for 2026, as the SPD prepares to nominate Steffen Krach for the top city post next week.