From Hildburg Bruns
Is he a party rebel or a failed career comrade? The fact is that it has been a long time since a comrade in Berlin took to court his party leaders so clearly and heartily.
Jens Hofmann (49), professional civil servant in the Ministry of the Interior. Also member of the district parliament in Spandau. However, he has resigned from the SPD parliamentary group and is doing politics there as a soloist.
Hofmann about…
… party leader Raed Saleh (45): “He is uncompromisingly pursuing one goal: he wants to become the governing mayor of Berlin. Franziska Giffey is just his driving force.”
… party leader Franziska Giffey (44): “Sooner or later she will stumble upon a scandal. It doesn’t take much anymore: the doctorate affair and husband debacle have weakened her and the election result at the state party conference showed that she has passed her zenith.”
Franziska Giffey and Raed Saleh were confirmed as SPD leaders, albeit with weak results Photo: dpa
At the SPD party conference in mid-June, the top duo got less than 60 percent of the votes. Giffey 58.9 percent, Saleh only 57.4 percent.
In any case, critic Hofmann is certain about future developments after a possible resignation of Giffey, who is considered a sharp critic of the expropriation of large real estate companies demanded by the left and some by the Greens, but who also has a difficult time with it in her own party. After all, the Berlin SPD is considered to be left-leaning, Giffey as middle-class.
Hofmann: “After her resignation, the only alternative for the job as Governing Mayor would be Raed Saleh. This is his only chance for the job, because the voters would not give the SPD the necessary votes with him as the top candidate, he is also aware of that.”
And what does the scolded Saleh say? The party leader on the BZ: “The former parliamentary group member came up for political elective offices and could not be considered. I acknowledge the personal disappointment.”
SPD frontman Raed SalehPhoto: picture alliance/dpa