SPD European Convention in Berlin: Comrades enjoy their left course

The reception for the party leader is still quite restrained. When Andrea Nahles enters the stage in the Berlin Congress Center, the enthusiasm of the comrades is limited. But after a few minutes Nahles manages to sweep the European Convention. She does that with sharp attacks on the coalition partner.

CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer? With their answer to Emmanuel Macron - keyword aircraft carriers - have shown a lauous understanding of Europe. "Do not you have any better ideas for Europe, Mrs. Kramp-Karrenbauer?" Exclaims the SPD leader.

CSU boss Markus Söder? The delivered in the coalition dispute over the basic pension only a "pension policy pipecracker" from.

The greatest enthusiasm of the delegates reaps Nahles, as she makes fun of the Young Union (JU). The youth association of CDU and CSU met last weekend in the same hall - and elected the new chairman Tilman Kuban, which provoked on this day with criticism of "Gleichschaltung" in the CDU.

Nahles sneers: "Do not worry, it was neatly wiped out." An allusion to the party joy of the JU. The offspring of the Union have accused the SPD "a left-tail," calls the party leader. But: If it is left to work for good wages and pensions, "yes, then we are left!"

The hall is raging now. At the end, Nahles reaps minutes of rhythmic applause. The election campaign in the Grand Coalition has begun.

SPD celebrates its unity

The SPD seems to be at peace with itself on this day. Basic pension, abandonment of Hartz IV, European minimum wage, international tax justice - there is no big issue between left and right wing on any topic. The comrades enjoy and celebrate their new unity.

Of course that's a big show, too. In two months is European elections and the SPD has declared this election to be a fateful choice. Publicly with the spin, it is about preserving the European Union from the "hunters and diehards", as Nahles puts it. But internally there is also the hope to leave the permanent crisis behind with a decent result.

For this, the party has tried to clarify all issues before the Convention. Upload filter? The SPD is counting on the European Parliament to stop the controversial Article 13 of the copyright reform. And this despite the fact that top candidate Katarina Barley has approved the reform as Minister of Justice. Digital tax and financial transaction tax? In essence, the party is taking the course of Finance Minister Olaf Scholz - and just a bit of pressure.

Leading candidate Barley is also celebrated. Although her speech is somewhat weaker than that of Nahles. "Kramp-Karrenbauer says no to anything Macron suggests," Barley shouts. She was glad that the French President understood: "Without a social Europe, it will not work."

She refers to the European minimum wage, for which the liberal Macron has recently spoken out. He was certainly not a social democrat, but he was "a leader with a European vision," says Barley. By Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, they have heard "only booming silence," scolds Barley.

"Clear left profile"

The comrades are happy about the sharp attacks on the Union. "We need this aggravation in the election campaign," says Rhineland-Palatinate Secretary General Daniel Stich. "Without polarization, there is no mobilization."

Also Serpil Midyatli, designated SPD Landeschefin in Schleswig-Holstein, praises the election campaign. The party had "decided a program with a clear left profile," she tells the SPIEGEL. Midyatli, who wants to succeed Ralf Stegner at a party conference next weekend, emphasizes the role of the party leader: "Andrea Nahles has managed to unite the party - even in contentious issues such as upload filters and financial transaction tax."

Even the absence of Martin Schulz does not cloud the mood at the convention. He has confessed to two lists for personal invitations, it is said - once as ex-party leader and once as ex-top candidate. Instead of sending the invitation twice, the employees in the Willy-Brandt-Haus probably relied on each other and did not send a letter. Schulz only got an e-mail like all members of the Bundestag.

Nahles addresses her predecessor in her speech and tells of a phone call on Friday. He told her that he would support the party in the election campaign. According to reports, the SPD boss did not know about the forgotten invitation until shortly before the conversation.