SPD: Working Group Demands Special Party Convention in Autumn 2026

With the demanded special party convention, the working group is aiming at a programmatic and personnel realignment. According to the motion, such a convention would take place in the autumn and give the leadership the opportunity to answer to the delegates. Whether there would actually be a vote on the top positions cannot be inferred from the available information.

For Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil, a special party convention would come at an inopportune time. Only last year, the party had agreed on a new dual leadership. Since then, according to several observers, the SPD's polling numbers have continued to decline. The demand from the working groups points to a dissatisfaction that extends beyond individual state associations.

Pressure from the State Associations

According to the available reports, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state association is also particularly active. From there, voices had repeatedly been raised in recent months calling for a fundamental course correction. Taken as a whole, this points to widespread unrest within the membership that is not limited to individual regions.

The SPD leadership has so far not publicly commented on the motion. However, according to Der Spiegel, possible reactions are already being discussed within party circles. A spokesperson for the federal party declined to comment when asked.

Observers assess the push as a signal to the party leadership not to postpone the substantive and personnel debate any further. Should the working group succeed with its motion, the special party convention would be one of the first major tests for the recently installed dual leadership.

Substantive Demands of the Working Group

In substantive terms, Ashuftah and Özdemir are demanding, among other things, a clearer delineation from political competitors as well as a stronger focus on social issues. However, no concrete resolutions are named in the motion. The final agenda would have to be set by the party executive.

A response from the SPD leadership is expected in the coming weeks. Until then, it remains open whether the party leadership will respond to the demand, ignore it, or convene a special party convention itself. What is certain is that the debate within the SPD has grown more heated.