SPD members vote on new leader who will decide Merkel's coalition

Social Democratic Party of Germany is set to anunce result of a membership vote on a new leer on October 26, which will decide wher to exit coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives. party will anunce result of ballot of its 426,000 members which will be officially decided by delegates at a conference in December. SPD has been leerless since June when Andrea Nahles quit after party’s worst result in a European election. About 12 candidates are running for post of which frontrunner is Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 

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SPD divided over coalition with Merkel

Yet it is unclear wher Scholz will garner 50% or more of vote needed to avoid a run-off ballot in vember as vote is expected to be fragmented. candidates are also to decide on staying or leaving Government. Members within SPD also wish to end alliance with Merkel so as stand as an opposition.  SPD alleges that y h to compromise on policies to be with her party. rift might le to a mirity government - both unappealing options for stability-loving Germans.

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All 12 candidates are reportedly running in pairs including Scholz and his running mate who want coalition to continue while ors are against, including one led by rbert Walter-Borjans from Germany’s most populous state, rth Rhine-Westphalia. opposing pair is also sceptical about remaining in government but have t been explicit. On or hand, analysts said media that protracted leership campaign has merely highlighted lack of quality in top ranks of party. re is candidate that is convincing to voters and who also brings charisma, y ded.

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SPD has h a record of back to back lows

Analysts furr said that winners in election will have to unite a party that has been bitterly divided between leftists and centrists since former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s welfare and labour market reforms some 15 years ago. SPD has declined dramatically after facing a surge in support for Greens on left and with far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) collecting protest votes. Since 1998, SPD has lost two-thirds of its support since 1998. party fell to its lowest since 1933 in 2017.

(With inputs from ncies)

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