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SPD crisis in Neukölln: Martin Hikel withdraws after a weak election
Michael Roth criticizes the SPD and sheds light on the tensions surrounding Martin Hikel's withdrawal as mayoral candidate in Berlin.
SPD crisis in Neukölln: Martin Hikel withdraws after a weak election
Neukölln looks turbulent when it comes to the SPD's political landscape. Martin Hikel, who has been district mayor for almost eight years, only received 68.5 percent of the votes at the most recent delegate conference and is now withdrawing his candidacy for the Berlin election in September 2026. Hikel justifies his withdrawal with insufficient support for a successful election campaign. The event was abruptly canceled, highlighting the tensions within the SPD. The influence of the left wing in the Neukölln SPD is increasing significantly, which further complicates the situation. These developments were explained in detail in a report by Bild.
The criticism of Hikel comes primarily from the ranks of the party left and the Jusos, who accuse him of not taking decisive enough action against clan crime. Hikel was also criticized for his refusal to use the term “anti-Muslim racism.” This attitude is also reflected in the statements of Michael Roth, a long-time SPD foreign policy expert. He expressed concerns about the treatment of Hikel and accused the party left of painting a “distorted image of social democracy”. Roth noted that dealing with Hikel in this way “costs a lot of trust” and that citizens are reinforced in their prejudices against parties. He called for consistent action against social problems such as clan crime, drug trafficking and anti-Semitism.
Tensions and challenges
Looking at the challenges facing the SPD in Berlin, it becomes clear: it only has two out of twelve mayors and is falling behind the Left in surveys. Franziska Giffey, the Berlin SPD leader, expressed regret over Hikel's decision and hopes that the situation will be dealt with constructively. Steffen Krach, as the SPD's top candidate for the office of governing mayor, faces enormous challenges, especially after Hikel's weak result. At the last party conference, Hikel received the worst result of all candidates and therefore had to withdraw his ambitions.
Neukölln, often considered a hotbed of clan crime, has around 330,000 residents, which only adds to the region's problems. Hikel actually advocates a tough course against clan crime, but he is accused of indulging in too much publicity. In addition, Hikel is committed to combating Islamist tendencies, extremism and anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, the inner unrest within the SPD cannot be overlooked, and it remains to be seen what will happen next.
New perspectives for the SPD
The executive SPD district executive is planning to find a new applicant for the office of district mayor in the near future. With the party's troubled situation and internal conflicts, one can only hope that things will calm down soon. Given the current situation, it will be important for the SPD in Berlin to regain lost trust and find new, constructive ways to deal with the growing discontent within the membership and the electorate.
The political marmot show in Berlin-Neukölln makes it clear that the SPD is facing major challenges. We can't wait to see how things develop and whether new faces will bring a breath of fresh air into the party. After all, Martin Hikel, as co-leader of the Berlin SPD, still has a lot of responsibility to bear, no matter how the political storms may rage. Get ready for the coming months!