SPD-Neumünster disinvites Ralf Stegner because of the Russia manifesto!

SPD-Neumünster disinvites Ralf Stegner because of the Russia manifesto!

Neumünster is facing a controversial development that is becoming increasingly noticeable in the broader political landscape. The SPD member of the Bundestag Ralf Stegner was originally supposed to appear as a keynote speaker at the traditional “Red Grütze Dinner” on July 4th. But that has changed: the SPD town hall faction in Neumünster disinvited Stegner from the event. On average, this event has been a fixture in the city's calendar for over 30 years, giving a guest speaker the opportunity to talk about political issues in a humorous way. But this year everything seems to be different.

The reason for the disinvitation is the controversial “Russia Manifesto” that Stegner and other SPD members published. In this document, the signatories, among other things, call for talks with Russia and reject further arming of the Bundeswehr. While a rapprochement with Russia and a strengthening of Europe's ability to act in security policy are seen as necessary by some prominent comrades, the manifesto also divides opinions within the party. The town hall faction in Neumünster is of the opinion that a discussion about the manifesto would have overshadowed the event and has therefore decided not to invite Stegner.

Political tensions and alternative voices

Ralf Stegner reacts calmly to the decision and points out that he has numerous other invitations. He sees the manifesto as an important contribution to the debate within the SPD and emphasizes that the party should see itself as a peace party. “It is never naive to work for peace,” explains Stegner. However, only five active SPD members of the Bundestag were included in the manifesto, including Stegner himself, which raises the question of how much support this positioning has within the broader base.

The people of Neumünster have already found a replacement speaker for the Rote Grütze meal: Kiel's mayor Ulf Kampf will now take the floor. This change sheds light on the increasing tensions within the SPD, particularly with regard to the narrative of security and arms issues. The manifesto, which strives for better understanding with Russia, is criticized by skeptics, such as former military commissioner Hans-Peter Bartels, as being related to the Kremlin narrative. In addition, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius describes the document as a “denial of reality”.

The future of the peace debate

The discussion surrounding the Russia manifesto and the disinvitation of Stegner could have far-reaching consequences for the future direction of the SPD. Stegner himself has made it clear that an exclusive focus on rearmament is not a solution to the security policy challenges. He would like to see democratic parties in Germany, and especially the SPD, lead a clear debate about peace and migration. The internal party disputes make it clear that different views should have space within the SPD, even if they are not always able to gain a majority.

The events in Neumünster are another example of the deep divisions that are becoming more visible within the Social Democratic Party. The ongoing discussion about the manifesto shows that the will to de-escalation is repeatedly met with resistance in the current political landscape. The coming months are likely to be crucial for both Stegner and the SPD as a whole when it comes to finding a clear voice in peace policy.

Further details on this development can be found in the reports from kn online, ndr and zdf.