In Saxony-Anhalt over five percent | SPD hurts

Hurray, we're there: SPD Hamburgers at the SPD election party in Magdeburg. Photo: dpa/Julian Stratenschulte There were two disturbing scenes on television on election night in Saxony-Anhalt. First, AfD election winner Ulrich Siegmund appeared in front of his fans and shouted: "It's a sign for all of Germany because we have finally found ourselves, found Germany. This is a confident sign that will go through the whole country." Sounds scary to all non-AfDers.

But the SPD members cheered in their party headquarters when they heard the election results, as could be seen on television. Because they remained above five percent and will also be represented in the next state parliament. They even increased by 0.3 percentage points, to 9.3 percent. A sad cheer from the officials of Germany's oldest party. Thank you Campact, thank you tactical voters! But no one said.

You can think what you want about the SPD, but when it is so weak, you start to feel uneasy. This is a depressive sign that will also spread throughout the country. When I suggested the topic "SPD" for this section at the editorial meeting of the "nd" on Monday morning, someone asked: "Who would have thought that the SPD party would one day shrink to a staff?" Another sighed: "The SPD as an orchid topic, that hurts."

Stumbled, lost, dismounted, but still there. They used to be called special democrats. They are happy that they have not yet disappeared like the FDP, with whom they formed a government a long, almost forgotten time ago. With Willy Brandt they appointed the only left-wing chancellor in the Federal Republic. He wanted to “dare to have more democracy” – sounds like a dream today. Since his resignation in 1974, more and more compulsions have been made. And the party right, the Seeheimer Kreis, was always in control when it came to the top positions.

Disarmament, social justice, education for all? Hm, hmm, unfortunately that's not possible, because what should the media think? During Brandt's time as chancellor, there was a bumper sticker that said: "My heart beats on the left - SPD." That would be surreal today. It's monotonously about the "center" and that's why the SPD wants to be the better CDU. Just don't cause any trouble if property and growth could be an issue again. "My feeling is that the people in our country are also prepared to make sacrifices and accept change," said the current SPD leader Lars Klingbeil in March, confirming his party's suicide course.

Making sacrifices is what the SPD board likes. First the morals, then the reason and finally the party. There is no other way, they will say.

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