How does the ambitious comrade tick Klingbeil? – Diepresse.com

With the German Christian Democrats, a joke is circulating: If the coalition negotiations had taken a few days longer, Lars would have Clever Probably also brought out the Chancellery for itself. The SPD-The boss is said to have proven to be a tough negotiator in the past few weeks -well prepared, always equipped with current figures for all topics of conversation and knowingly what he wants. One could have taken an example of grumbling disappointed conservatives.

Although the SPD has recorded a historically weak 16.4 percent of the votes for itself in the federal election, the supreme comrade is supposed to be the opposite, Union boss Friedrich Merzdrove in front of them in the coalition talks. He made him a billion-dollar loosening of the debt brake for infrastructure and defense spending. And the coalition pact presented on Wednesday bears a social democratic handwriting in many points. The SPD leader was also able to get important posts for his party: the SPD will occupy seven ministries in the future, including the key departments defense, work and judiciary. Klingbeil itself will probably adopt the mighty Ministry of Finance.

A total of 256 negotiators from the CDU, CSU and SPD tinkered with the content of the government paper. Ultimately, however, it was said to have been Merz and Klingbeil, who made up the most important points with each other. If the base of the conversation between the two alpha animals after a polarizing election campaign was initially cooled, they should also find each other in the course of the negotiations on a personal level. They have been sharing the DU word for two weeks. Friedrich and Lars, the new top duo for the Federal Republic.

Birthday fiasco

While Merz had long been preparing for the Chancellery, the political career of the Lars Klingbeil with the historical election flap was on the brink. February 23 was a black day for social democracy, the worst election result in 138 years. It was also a 47th birthday. One that he would like to suppress, but will not be forgotten so quickly.

As the party chairman, the son of a professional soldier and a retail clerk from Munster was jointly responsible for the election fiasco, especially since he was before Olaf Scholz had decided as top candidates and against the more popular in polls Boris Pistorius. Many would have expected a humble resignation as an appropriate reaction. But Klingbeil had other plans: whether the courage of despair or because he at least wanted to make himself a gift, he announced on the same evening that he also wanted to take over the chair of the SPD parliamentary group.

It was a hussar piece that put the Klingbeil there. The power-conscious SPD leader surprised his comrades, who first had to process the devastating electorate. Of course, there must also be personnel consequences, Klingbeil made it clear – and meant others. About the co-chair Saskia Eskenwho still does not want to vacate her armchair, even though different party wings have long been sawn violently.

Although some in the party initially strangled with the self-emphasis on the former Schröder pupil, Klingbeil’s new power should prove to be a strategic coup for the Social Democrats. As an unrestricted number one, he was able to lead the negotiations for the SPD at eye level with Union boss Friedrich Merz. The fact that he was already at the table in 2017 and 2021 during coalition talks gave him an advantage over his negotiating partner. Also that a coalition with the SPD for Merz was without an alternative after he previously excluded any cooperation with the AfD.

Klingbeil almost spanned the bow. A few days before the government pact was completed Inheritance-, have caught in asset taxes. It is said to have stood on a button, according to the Christian Democrats camp, some wanted to cancel the conversations.

The networker

But Klingbeil scratched the curve again. One of his most important sponsors is ex-SPD chief Martin Schulz. The former candidate for chancellor made him his general secretary in 2017. « Klingbeil cleverly runs the party, » says Schulz in the « Spiegel » about his former protégé. It is rhetorically versed, clear and binding in the language. But his speeches are rarely rousing. To do this, he is « integrative and dialogue -oriented, not from above, » attested Schulz.

One of his great strengths is to forge networks. As party leader, Klingbeil spent a lot of time visiting MPs in their constituencies. He completed joint citizens’ forums or knocked on doors with them in the election campaign. Over the years, Klingbeil has gathered comrades out of different wings. He is a member of the conservative Seeheimer Kreis, but also has allies with the party left and the pragmatic networkers.

The Klingbeil method also includes hugging its critics – in case of doubt, so firm that they don’t have enough space to continue to beat. A joke is circulating in the party, referring to the Netflix-Series « House of Cards ». Through strong networks and intrigues, it brings the main character Francis Underwood to the US president. Some Social Democrats now call Klingbeil and his environment with a wink of « House of Lars ».

Apart from politics, he is an enthusiastic musician. Klingbeil has several guitars in his Bundestag office. Occasionally he would play on it – « to think, » he says. Then it can get loud. Even as a teenager, he was a punk and grunge fan. That also shaped him politically.