Almost three weeks before the general election, the SPD leadership sees itself in the light of good surveys as "really motivated and with a broad chest" fighting for votes.

As party chairman Saskia Esken reported on Monday after a meeting of the presidium, “calmness and unity” are well received from the perspective of the Social Democrats.

The party therefore sees no reason to name a “team” that could provide an insight into the selection of future ministers who, alongside Olaf Scholz and a presumed Chancellery Minister Wolfgang Schmidt, could belong to a government if the SPD wins the election.

Peter Carstens

Political correspondent in Berlin

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One team, according to co-chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans, “has no place in the current phase of the election campaign”.

The Chancellor determines the guidelines of politics, and the parties participate in the formation of political will, according to the Basic Law.

Everything else can be found later.

Among the things that Esken had to tackle as quickly as possible was an increase in the minimum wage to twelve euros and the enforcement of collective bargaining agreements.

The big issue of climate protection must be tackled immediately.

"A responsible European and foreign policy"

When asked about the SPD's coalition plans, the party leaders referred to the resolutions passed at a party congress in November 2013. The chairman at the time was Sigmar Gabriel. The resolutions only provided for the AfD to be excluded. Literally it said: "For the future we are not closing any coalitions (with the exception of right-wing populist or extreme parties)." However, three conditions must be met for future coalitions to be formed: "There must be a stable and reliable parliamentary majority. There must be a binding and financially viable coalition agreement that is compatible with social democratic values ​​and enables the highest possible realization of our key objectives.A responsible European and foreign policy must be guaranteed within the framework of our international obligations. "

With regard to the left's current rapprochement efforts, Walter-Borjans said: “The left is in a critical position at around six percent. So it is good and right to think about it. "The SPD has always represented its program with a sense of proportion so that it can also become reality".

Walter-Borjans complained that the election campaign is currently "not always conducted fairly". As for the Union, "panic and despair increased day by day". He spoke of a very good starting position, which was "but no reason to take off now". With regard to the candidate for Chancellor Scholz, Walter-Borjans said that before the election it became more and more evident what he had always said himself: "You need a person you can trust." The CDU and CSU have "no program, no plan, but rather stripping into the economy". From that, added Walter-Borjans, one wanted to “cut it off”.