Saxony SPD leadership expresses confidence

Despite discontent in the state, the leadership of the Saxon SPD is expressing confidence. “Germany has every reason to look to the future with confidence,” said SPD leader Kathrin Michel at an extraordinary party convention in Dresden. One should not conclude that Germany’s best years are already behind it. “The opposite is true. Right now is the moment that decides whether we bury our heads in the sand or shape the future.”

Michel: Politics Must Earn Trust

Michel acknowledged that trust does not fall from the sky. “People see very clearly what isn’t going well right now. They see an economy that has been complex for years. They are experiencing international crises and wars. They are worried about their jobs, energy costs, and the future of their children and grandchildren.” Many people would wonder whether politics is even up to these challenges anymore. “Politics cannot demand trust. Politics must earn that trust.”

Party leader sees Germany as a “land of opportunity”

According to Michel, Germany is a “land of opportunity.” “Perhaps we sometimes focus too much on the emptiness of the glass. And too little on the fruits? We have outstanding companies, dedicated employees, high-performing research, and a strong democracy. Above all, however, we have people who are willing to take on responsibility,” the party leader said optimistically.

SPD aims to put Saxony on a reform course

Co-chair Henning Homann elaborated further on the situation in the Free State. “We are putting Saxony on a reform course,” he said to the applause of the 140 delegates. He discussed education policy in detail. Homann emphasized that in the coming years, the issue of canceled classes will be replaced in the political debate by the question: Where in this state do we actually still have schools? He noted that a school is more than just an educational institution; it is a place where people live together in a community.

According to Homann, extended shared learning is not only the answer to many social problems in this state, but also a solution for preserving schools, particularly in rural areas. “That is why we need to take a fresh approach to school policy.” In addition to Michel and Homann, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider also planned to speak. 

SPD Wants to Bring an East German Perspective to the Policy Debate

The party convention focuses primarily on education policy and reforms. A second key focus is the SPD’s policy platform, which is set to be adopted at a federal party convention in Leipzig at the end of 2027. The Saxon Social Democrats want to bring the East German perspective to this discussion.

Meanwhile, the Saxon Young Socialists are putting pressure on their party regarding the new police law. In a motion to the party convention, they call on the state parliamentary group not to approve the draft law in its current form and to work toward fundamental changes. They criticize, above all, the police’s new surveillance powers.

The SPD in Saxony currently has 4,400 members.