Lars Klingbeil Elected to Lead SPD in Coalition Talks with CDU

Lars Klingbeil was elected as the head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group in Germany on February 26, 2025, with 85.6% of the vote. This positions him to lead negotiations with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to form a new government coalition following recent elections. Klingbeil succeeds Rolf Mützenich and steps up after Olaf Scholz declined to participate in coalition talks. CDU leader Friedrich Merz congratulated Klingbeil and expressed hope for a productive working relationship. Klingbeil emphasized the SPD's commitment to forming a capable government but stressed the need for confidentiality during negotiations.