Platzeck to lead SPD into new German coalition

GERMANY: The Social Democrats have nominated the state premier Matthias Platzeck as their new leader to bring the party into…

GERMANY: The Social Democrats have nominated the state premier Matthias Platzeck as their new leader to bring the party into a grand coalition with the Christian Democrats.

SPD members expressed hope yesterday that Mr Platzeck, state premier of Brandenburg and a self-described Social Democrat with "conservative traits", can stabilise the party and end the recriminations that followed Monday's resignation of leader Franz Müntefering. "We want negotiations on building a government to move ahead swiftly," said Mr Platzeck yesterday.

If elected at the SPD party conference on November 14th, the 51-year-old will follow CDU leader Angela Merkel to become the second easterner to head a political party. He also has ample experience of grand coalitions in Brandenburg, where he leads a power-sharing government with the CDU.

Chancellor Schröder called the nomination a "good decision" and promised Mr Platzeck his support until he stands down at the end of coalition talks.

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Mr Platzeck shares the political style of Mr Schröder and Mr Müntefering, power-driven and pragmatic. But his preference for a lower profile has made him popular among party rank and file.

Mr Platzeck's appointment would come as a relief to the CDU. It feared a swing to the left after the election of a left-wing party deputy which prompted Mr Müntefering's departure.

"He is not an ideologue but very pragmatic. I cannot imagine that he wants to encourage a lurch to the left," said Mr Jörg Schönbohm of the Brandenburg CDU and a cabinet colleague of Mr Platzeck. He predicted that Mr Platzeck would have a good working relationship with Ms Merkel. The new SPD leader is likely to stabilise coalition talks and the future grand coalition government, but his appointment could rekindle speculation of a future coalition between the SPD and the new Left Party.

Mr Gregor Gysi, a leading light of the Left Party, said a partnership with the SPD "might be possible in a few years", but that a new generation of leaders would have to "articulate a different kind of thinking".

Meanwhile, Bavarian premier Edmund Stoiber is facing growing criticism in Munich for his decision not to become economics minister under Ms Merkel in Berlin. The left-wing Tageszeitung newspaper commented: "After the month-long ego trip, Stoiber will have his hands full to get the situation in Munich under control. Long term, he is unlikely to succeed."