By launching the idea of a new European treaty for the United States of Europe, during the SPD Congress on 7 December in Berlin, Martin Schulz has effectively set the cat amongst the pigeons. Although the issue of Europe was relatively absent in the German election campaign, the re-elected President of the Social Democrats appealed at length for a “strong” and “social” Europe.
The leader of the Social Democrats would like a Convention to be set up that involves “the people and civil society” which will lead to a new treaty. He also said that, “those who vote against it will automatically leave the European Union”.
On the content, Martin Schulz makes a frontal attack on austerity based economic policy and hammered home the message that, “We do not need European diktats on savings but on a European investment budget”. He also supports the creation of a European Finance Minister, “who puts an end to unfair competition”. On the other hand, nothing was said about the European Monetary Fund (EMF) or democratic control of the Eurozone, following on from the European Commission's extensive proposals in this area (see EUROPE 11921). There was no mention either of Emmanuel Macron’s name, whose speech at the Sorbonne on the future of the EU has pushed the Germans into taking a position in this area.
Nonetheless, Martin Schulz called for the introduction of a “minimum wage" to fight against social dumping, at the same time as a “Europe of solidarity” investing in jobs for young people.
He exclaimed that, “We have to have the courage to push Europe forward. our continent cannot allow for another four years of German European policy ‘à la Schäuble’". This attack was aimed at the CDU and with whom Martin Schulz is due to begin negotiations on Wednesday 13 December on the question of a possible coalition government.
Internal divisions. During the Congress, the President of the SPD received a mandate for beginning “exploratory discussions”. Nonetheless, this received a “yes but” qualified approval because the party is divided on the question of whether to form a "grand coalition" with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Young Social Democrats, the 'Jusos', argued against the ‘groko' (grand) coalition, which was supported by a petition of 10,000 signatories. The SPD cannot abandon the role of opposition to the far right AfD alone, argued the President of the Jusos, Kevin Kühnert. The Vice President of the “Jusos”, Annika Klose, argued that this would be “political suicide”. This view was also supported by the left-wing of the SPD.
On the other hand, the conservative wing, represented by the so-called 'Seeheimer Kreis’ group called for negotiations to begin with Angela Merkel. The President of the Bavarian Federation of the SPD, Natascha Kohnen, asserted that, “We have to be at the negotiating table if we want to influence the debate”.
The result of the exploratory discussions still needs to be approved by a new congress, which will undoubtedly take place in the middle of January, before any real negotiations are launched. The result of these negotiations will then have to be voted on by party activists. In any scenario, “there should be no knee-jerk reaction”, emphasised Martin Schulz. (Original version in French by Nathalie Steiwer)