Klingbeil at the Hessentag: Warms up debate about controversial manifesto!

Klingbeil at the Hessentag: Warms up debate about controversial manifesto!

It was warm, sunny over 30 degrees, when the doors opened for Hessentag in Bad Vilbel. A place where the masses gather to unite celebration and politics. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil attended the event after inspecting the Deutsche Börse in Eschborn. But a debate about a “manifesto” sparked discussion among party colleagues and sympathizers.

In the last few days, around 100 SPD members and supporters signed this position paper, which calls for a change in foreign and security policy. This caused some unrest within the party, but Klingbeil remained calm. FR reports that the SPD leader clearly rejected calls for more intensive dialogue with Russia by underlining Moscow's responsibility for the ongoing human fate in Ukraine. “We continue to support Ukraine and rely on military strength and diplomatic efforts,” said Klingbeil.

The demands of the manifesto

The manifesto stands out with one demand in particular: an end to the killing in Ukraine and a call for easing relations with Russia. [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/klingbeil-spd-manifest-aussenpolitik- defense-russland-100.html) quotes Klingbeil, who does not see the document as a personal attack, but as part of the SPD's internal dispute. “It was surprising to me and I didn’t know anything about it,” he emphasized.

The central points of the manifesto also include a defensive orientation of the Bundeswehr and a halt to the arms race. There are also calls for more resources to be used to combat poverty and protect the climate instead of increasing defense budgets. Considerations about returning to cooperation with Russia were also initiated. Rolf Mützenich and other prominent signatories advocate these new paths, even though Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met the manifesto with sharp criticism, describing it as a “denial of reality” Deutschlandfunk.

Internal opinions

There is also skepticism among members. A 78-year-old comrade expressed his dissatisfaction with the election results and criticized former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Timon Gremmels, Hessian Minister for Culture and Science, is aware of the challenges that the discussion about the manifesto brings with it: “We have to endure the discussion.” And while the majority of members - an impressive 85 percent - have approved the coalition agreement, it remains exciting to see how the party will position itself further.

While Klingbeil received both criticism and approval at the festival grounds, the issue of the manifesto and the expectations of the SPD simmered in public. A political sophisticate remains in search of solutions and balances - because that is the game of politics that does not stop in Bad Vilbel.