Willingmann was unanimously elected as the SPD's top candidate in Quedlinburg!

Willingmann was unanimously elected as the SPD's top candidate in Quedlinburg!

On Saturday morning, September 7th, 2025, the party conference of the SPD Saxony-Anhalt took place in Quedlinburg, at which Armin Willingmann was nominated as the top candidate for the upcoming state elections in 2026. If you look at the polls, the SPD is currently at 7 percent - a respectable but unconvincing figure compared to the 8.4 percent it achieved in the last election in 2021. One more reason to prepare strategically for the upcoming election campaign. taz.de reports that over a hundred members showed up at the party conference, where the only name on the ballot papers was Armin Willingmann. The agreement on the candidate shows that the SPD in Saxony-Anhalt is pursuing a clear line.

The 62-year-old professor of business law and current Minister for Science and Environment in Saxony-Anhalt received an impressive 97 out of 98 votes in the election, which corresponds to 99 percent. There was only one abstention and no opposition candidate was in sight. Lars Klingbeil, the Federal Chairman of the SPD and Vice Chancellor, supported Willingmann during his appearance, which, however, only received brief applause MDR reports.

A clear announcement

In a 40-minute speech, Willingmann clearly differentiated himself from the top candidates of the CDU and AfD. He particularly criticized the CDU's decisions and called, among other things, for a reduction in electricity taxes. In his opinion, the time is ripe for a clear change of course. Willingmann describes the AfD as a right-wing extremist party that spreads fear and attacks the community. He emphasizes that the SPD will not allow Saxony-Anhalt to become an experimental field for such forces. “We are fighting for trust,” said the politician, “and not just for percentage points.” n-tv writes.

In his speech, Lars Klingbeil underlined the importance of a policy that can build bridges and warned that polarization should not be the focus. He described Willingmann as a “bridge builder” who is capable of serious and pragmatic politics. In doing so, he is targeting voters who expect an SPD to focus on the interests of hard-working people.

The challenge of polls

Although the nomination can be celebrated as a clear success, the poll numbers remain a problem. The SPD is currently being challenged as the strongest force in the state election campaign by the AfD, which is currently leading with 39 percent, while the CDU is at 27 percent. However, Willingmann remains optimistic and still sees time to convince voters and actively shape the country's political course. His speech was described as calm, pragmatic and willing to compromise, a necessary attitude in turbulent times.