Pistorius withdraws from Osnabrück election campaign: What does that mean?

Pistorius withdraws from Osnabrück election campaign: What does that mean?

30.08.2024 - 11:46

Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung

In a surprising announcement, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) decided that he will not compete for the Osnabrück constituency in the upcoming Bundestag election in 2025. He announced this in an exclusive interview with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ), which ends some speculations about his political future. Despite the recent discussions about a possible candidacy in Osnabrück, Pistorius leaves open whether he will continue his political career in a different constituency of Lower Saxony. "I will comment on this in due course," said the minister. This uncertainty raises questions about his future role within the SPD.

Pistorius, who will celebrate his 65th birthday in the coming year, has always seen Osnabrück as his political home. He was born here, he lives here, and here he was active for over a decade, first as mayor and later as Interior Minister of Lower Saxony. His decision not to run in the Osnabrück constituency could signal a strategic realignment, especially in view of its position as one of the most respected politicians in Germany. According to the political barometer, it is considered the most popular federal politician, which makes the decision all the more remarkable.

The political landscape in Osnabrück

The constituency of Osnabrück-Stadt-which includes not only the city itself, but also the adjacent communities of Georgsmarienhütte, Belm, Hagen, Hasbergen and Wallenhorst-has an interesting political history. In the last Bundestag election in 2021, the SPD candidate Manuel Gava won a surprising direct mandate and prevailed against the strong CDU candidate Mathias Middelberg, the deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Gava has already announced that in 2025 he would like to stand for election again, which could increase the political tensions in the constituency.

The SPD's nominating procedures are already underway, and the delegates have to decide on October 24, 2024 who will go into the race for the direct mandate for the Social Democrats. Pistorius ’retreat from this race could reflect strategic considerations in the SPD perspective of the nationwide campaign, especially at a time when the political cards are constantly mixed.

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