SPD: Serpil Midyatli resigns as state chair in Schleswig-Holstein

Kiel. Serpil Midyatli is stepping down as head of the SPD in Schleswig-Holstein. She informed the state executive committee that she would be relinquishing the chairmanship and proposed Kiel's mayor, Ulf Kämpfer, as her successor, according to a letter from the politician to SPD members, which has been obtained by the German Press Agency.

The SPD in northern Germany had previously decided to nominate Kämpfer as its lead candidate for the 2027 state elections. In a membership vote, he clearly prevailed with 79.76 percent of the vote against the SPD state chairwoman (20.24 percent), as the party announced over the weekend.

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Midyatli continued: “Ulf and I agree that we want to hand over the state chairmanship in an orderly manner. An extraordinary state party conference will elect a new chairman in February 2026. Until then, Ulf, as the lead candidate, will make all the necessary preparations. And I will ensure a smooth transition.”

Midyatli was re-elected as SPD state chairwoman at a state party conference in May. She received approximately 61 percent of the votes at that time. She is also deputy federal chairwoman of the SPD.

The 53-year-old campaigner was State Secretary for the Environment under the then Schleswig-Holstein Environment Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). He has been Mayor of Kiel since 2014, but will not run for re-election as head of administration in the city.

RND/dpa