GERMANY:GERMAN CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel has criticised her Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners for the "undignified" exit of party leader Kurt Beck at the weekend, writes Derek Scally
After two years in the job, Mr Beck stood down on Sunday as SPD leader, the fifth in as many years, claiming he was victim of an "intrigue" by Schröder-era reformists.
"That kind of behaviour is unworthy of a large political party," said Dr Merkel, who dispatched former chancellor Helmut Kohl and his successor as CDU leader before taking control of the party herself eight years go.
Rumours continued to fly yesterday about the circumstances of Mr Beck's resignation, minutes after SPD foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was announced as challenger to Dr Merkel at next year's general election.
Mr Beck said he had decided two weeks ago to let Mr Steinmeier run but he said the plan to announce the decision on Sunday was stymied when a "deliberately false" version of the events was leaked to Der Spiegel magazine, undermining his authority.
Mr Steinmeier said that he "regretted" the turn of events, of which he is the prime suspect and main beneficiary.
"I know this job from the inside for many years," he said, a nod to his years as former chancellor Gerhard Schröder's head adviser. "I appeal now to the party to agree discipline and unity in the coming campaign . . . I'm playing to win." Calls for unity, the mantra of the SPD's last five party leaders, is unlikely to be heeded by the party left wing which rose in influence under Mr Beck.
"The SPD is not some sort of commando party and we have no longing for the old 'basta!' days," said left-winger Ralf Stegner, referring to Mr Schröder's table-thumping leadership style.
SPD leader-designate Franz Müntefering, a close ally of Mr Schröder who resigned as leader in 2005 after clashing with SPD left-wingers, said he hoped for a "great election result" next year.
That can only happen, political observers said, if the party quickly solves two problems.
"The party still faces a decisive structural problem: what to do with the new Left Party," said Dr Michael Weigl of the Centre for Applied Policy Research. "And that problem can't be solved without resolving the ongoing faction battles."