SPD in the Bundestag elects party leader Lars Klingbeil as parliamentary group leader
Klingbeil replaces Rolf Mützenich, who did not run for the chairmanship. After the heavy losses for the Social Democrats, the parliamentary group has shrunk from 207 to 120 members.
The SPD has elected party leader Lars Klingbeil as the new parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag. The 47-year-old received 85.6 percent of the valid votes at the meeting of the new parliamentary group on Wednesday. 95 SPD MPs voted for Klingbeil, 13 against him, and three abstained. Klingbeil replaces the previous parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich , who did not run for the chairmanship again but is still part of the parliamentary group.
Following the Social Democrats' heavy losses in the federal election, the SPD parliamentary group has shrunk from 207 to 120 members. Despite the poor performance in the election, Klingbeil was nominated by the party and parliamentary group executive committees for the position of parliamentary group leader. The aim is for the party and parliamentary group leadership to "be in one hand" in the future, said Klingbeil.
In his new dual role, Klingbeil is likely to become the central figure in the upcoming coalition talks with the Union. Klingbeil, who turned 47 on the day of the federal election, is part of the conservative Seeheimer Circle within his party - unlike the previous SPD parliamentary group leader and party leftist Mützenich. According to information from the parliamentary group, 113 MPs took part in the vote. However, two votes were invalid.
Berliner-zeitung
