SPD
Social Democratic Party · centre-left · social democratic
Our analysis · imported snapshot
Modernise Germany through public investment while protecting wages, pensions and renters, with more redistribution from high wealth and a pro-European, pro-Ukraine foreign policy.[10][11]
16.4%2025 vote
120Group seats · 8 Sep 2026
13%Sep 2026 poll
Bas + Klingbeilco-chairs
What it wants to change
Party says · 2025 manifesto
- Investment: a “Deutschlandfonds” beginning at €100bn for housing, grids, charging and other infrastructure; reform debt rules to enable more investment.[10]
- Work & distribution: €15 minimum wage goal, tax relief for lower/middle incomes, higher taxation of the richest 5% including a wealth-tax approach.[10]
- Housing & pensions: stronger/longer rent controls and no higher retirement age.[10]
- Migration: stronger EU external-border control and deportation of offenders, but rejects offshoring asylum procedures and supports family reunification.[10]
- Foreign policy: strong EU/NATO orientation and continued support for Ukraine, while stressing diplomacy and avoiding direct NATO–Russia escalation.[10]
In one sentence: the SPD wants a more investment-heavy and redistributive social-market economy in which the state actively protects industrial jobs and household security.[11]
Following, strongholds & government footprint
Historically rooted in the labour movement, the SPD remains strongest in parts of the old West, particularly industrial regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as a number of northern city-states and Länder. bpb cites Protestant areas of the old Federal Republic and Catholic industrial NRW as classic strongholds.[12]
Today: junior partner in the Merz coalition. Lars Klingbeil is Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor; Bärbel Bas is also a federal minister as well as co-chair.[35]