Franziska Giffey likes to talk about the “functioning city”. Prior to her election as Governing Mayor, she used the slogan to promote herself as the guarantor of change for the better in this city. Her smart demeanor and the prospect of a pragmatic political style won over a majority of Berliners. And not just the SPD regular voters.
7,000 CDU supporters and 45,000 non-voters – more than any other party – also voted for the SPD and its top candidate. Giffey’s promise, as simple as it is impressive: to lead Berlin into the future as the federal capital through good governance.
But instead of shaping major future issues, the government and its coalition have been dealing with acute crisis management in the present since they took office – and with coming to terms with the past. The election that made Giffey ruler: awkward. And probably, as the state constitutional court sees it, worth repeating. Berlin, the functioning city?
There is a risk of premature termination
Since the court’s preliminary assessment at the end of September, Franziska Giffey has been a prime minister on probation. And the SPD is the governing party on call. What otherwise only affects people in normal employment now also applies to Giffey and her party: you could be terminated early.
Under this impression, a party conference took place in Neukölln on Saturday. The uncertain situation was clearly noticeable: there were no quarrels like at the previous party congress in the summer. Instead: An image of unity and harmony. Because both actors – party and government – know that they can only survive the probationary period together.
It is fortunate for the SPD that Giffey was not responsible for the election that failed in many constituencies. In any case, it is free of any responsibility in this regard. For Giffey, on the other hand, it’s unfortunate that her party is at least partly responsible for the messed-up electoral organization. And that one of her particularly valued colleagues, Andreas Geisel, was responsible for the election as a senator for the interior.
In the tense relationship between good and bad luck, the SPD and its new old top candidate form a community of destiny.
Anna Thewalt
In this tension between good and bad luck, the SPD and its new old top candidate form a community of destiny. They have to be successful together – otherwise the creative power in Berlin could soon be over for both of them. A defeat in Berlin would also be a bitter signal for the federal SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
If the court actually decides in favor of a repeat election on Wednesday, the election campaign will finally be opened – and the probationary period that is already felt will become a reality for the government.
A probationary period is generally about a worker having to prove their actual ability to do the job in question. And that’s exactly what’s good about it – in addition to all the annoyance for Berliners. It’s true: the threat of a repeat election heralded the election campaign prematurely and increased tensions in the coalition. In a winter marked by several crises, the city is also threatened by a government whose actions are likely to be reduced to the bare minimum for months. A shaky state of limbo with bickering instead of pragmatic shaping of the future.
But the probationary period also offers opportunities. One of them may already have been redeemed. Unlike other federal states, Berlin has presented an extensive relief package to deal with the energy crisis – it was also created so quickly under the pressure of a possible repeat election. The parties, in turn, have to pull themselves together and reflect on their profile.
In the case of the SPD, this led to the fact that on Saturday they put their image of the social party of the center forward – instead of carrying out internal party conflicts like in the summer.
In particular, the SPD and its coalition partners, the Greens and the Left Party, have to perform the balancing act of promoting their own strengths on the one hand, while on the other hand coalition work does not completely end before the election date. Because that would be fatal in these times. The Berliners can then rate who managed this balancing act best. And whether the ruler’s term of office will be extended. The probationary period – it could work for Berlin.
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Source: Tagesspiegel
I am an author and journalist with a focus on market news. I have worked for a global news website for the past two years, writing articles on a range of topics relating to the stock market. My work has been published in international publications and I have delivered talks at both academic institutions and business conferences around the world.
