Overview

• The SPD suffered its worst-ever federal election result in February 2025, securing only 16.4 percent of the vote.
• Former parliamentary leader Rolf Mützenich has urged the party to adopt clear programmatic and organizational reforms at its June 27–29 federal congress in Berlin.
• Mützenich highlighted the SPD's loss of voters to both Die Linke and the AfD, describing the party as being in a precarious 'sandwich position.'
• He proposed an open debate on a new basic program, modeled on the 1970s orientation framework that engaged unions, intellectuals, and artists.
• Leadership votes will also take place at the congress, with Lars Klingbeil standing for re-election and Bärbel Bas nominated as co-chair candidate.