Rehlinger and the controversial SPD manifesto: peace or regression?

Rehlinger and the controversial SPD manifesto: peace or regression?

In the German political landscape, a new manifesto within the SPD is causing excitement and controversial debates. On June 11, 2025, prominent Social Democrats, including Ralf Stegner and Rolf Mützenich, published a document calling for a fundamental course correction in foreign and security policy. The aim of this manifesto is a return to the policy of détente and dialogue with Russia, which is a delicate matter given the ongoing tensions and the war in Ukraine. Anke Rehlinger, Prime Minister of Saarland and deputy federal chairwoman of the SPD, commented on this issue and explained that she was not one of the supporters of the manifesto. She had not been informed that such a manifesto was being discussed and would probably not have signed, reports [Welt]().

Rehlinger emphasizes the need for the SPD to deal with a wide variety of opinions. According to her, this should be legitimate within the party - even if she personally does not share the manifesto's views. She further explains that Russia under Vladimir Putin is currently not a reliable interlocutor. Nevertheless, she sees the importance of publicly debating peace policy, similar to the discussions that took place in the 80s. In view of the upcoming party conference elections, Rehlinger believes it is crucial that the SPD finds a clear, united position in order to gain new strength.

Resistance to the manifesto

However, it is not just Anke Rehlinger's opinion that questions the manifesto. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the document as a “denial of reality.” In addition, Adis Ahmetovic, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, sees the contents of the manifesto as more than questionable. Peace and conflict researcher Thorsten Bonacker emphasizes that the manifesto was written in the spirit of the Cold War and that disarmament is not considered sensible in the current geopolitical situation. Another critic, journalist Gordon Repinski, sees the manifesto as an attack on Lars Klingbeil, who wants to position himself as a candidate for chancellor; it shows that the balance within the SPD between the forces of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the left-wing supporters of the manifesto has weakened, as he states in [ZDF]().

Peace politics and international responsibility

The discourse about peace and foreign policy in Germany is not new. The SPD has always positioned itself as an advocate of a restrictive arms export policy and calls for transparency measures for arms deals. At the same time, a partnership relationship with Russia is sought, always in accordance with international law. Germany has also advocated disarmament and arms control and is calling for new initiatives in this direction. In the past, Germany has invested not only in humanitarian aid, such as the over 4.5 billion euros for the Syrian crisis, but also in civilian crisis prevention and stabilization, so that a clear focus is placed on preventing conflicts, according to the [SPD parliamentary group's website]().

The SPD sees climate policy and its connection with peace policy as another important dimension. The goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral by 2050 requires comprehensive rethinking and support for democratic developments in Africa and other parts of the world. In this sense, it is clear that the upcoming debate at the SPD party conference will not only revolve around its own position on the manifesto, but also around the fundamental questions of German foreign policy in an increasingly complex world.