Construction Minister Hubertz: Dealing with Esken is not fair – a wake-up call for the SPD!

Construction Minister Hubertz: Dealing with Esken is not fair – a wake-up call for the SPD!

Construction Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) has sharply criticized the handling of the former SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken. In her podcast “My Hardest Decision,” she said that women in politics are often “taken to task more harshly.” Hubertz described the treatment of Esken as “not fair” and emphasized that Esken had “achieved great things” for the Social Democrats. She noted that without Esken, the SPD “would never have appointed chancellor,” indicating the significant role Esken played within the party.

Hubertz also defended Lars Klingbeil, the vice-chancellor and current president of the SPD. She describes him as “anything but unscrupulous” and underlines his “very clear strategic vision”. This provides insight into the support Hubertz has for the current party leadership and how she sees the SPD's strategic direction.

Personal insights and party future

In the conversation, Hubertz emphasized the importance of living a life beyond the political arena and also getting to know Berlin beyond the government district. This comment reflects the image of a politician who not only lives in politics, but also wants to understand the everyday lives of citizens.

Regarding the current situation of the SPD, she said that the party is “on the old steamer SPD” which “needs to really work hard” in order to gain relevance. This metaphor illustrates the challenges facing the SPD and the need to reposition itself in order to regain relevance in the German political landscape.

Mood and potential

In her analysis, Hubertz found that the overall German mood towards social democracy is currently at a low point. Despite this negative perception, she believes that the available potential within the party is not being sufficiently utilized. “The SPD has homework to do,” said Hubertz, and is offering itself to help with these urgently needed improvements.

Overall, it can be said that Hubertz not only addresses the challenges of the SPD, but also recognizes the merits of Saskia Esken and appeals to the party to become aware of its strengths in order to regain political relevance. This could play a crucial role in the future direction and revitalization of the SPD.