He had therefore asked the board of his North Rhine-Westphalian state association to forego his renewed nomination. He left with the “good feeling that he had helped shape the SPD for two years,” said the 69-year-old. “During this time we have shown that we can stick together and be successful with social democratic politics. After many years we are again the leading player in German politics. ”
According to the report, the outgoing SPD leader said nothing about a desired successor. But he was against the party leadership going into the new cabinet. “A member of the government as a party leader or party leader is necessarily always a piece of government spokesman,” said Walter-Borjans. The previous division of labor – party chairmanship on the one hand and government office on the other – has proven its worth.