SPD Election Programme 2025: Ambitious Manifesto Amid Tough Electoral Battle

At a party conference on 11 January 2025, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) of Chancellor Olaf Scholz adopted their election manifesto titled ‘More for you. Better for Germany.’ The 59-page programme focuses on measures aimed to boost the economy, provide relief for families and workers, and strengthening both internal and external security. Under the slogan ‘We fight’, the SPD sets out an ambitious social policy approach.

Concerning economic policy, the SPD calls for more state intervention to alleviate the financial burden on companies and citizens. To this end, the party proposes a Germany Fund and a “Made-in-Germany”-Bonus – an unbureaucratic tax incentive for investments. To reduce the cost of energy, the party aims to cap grid fees. Additionally, the SPD intends to safeguard jobs within the German industry, with a focus on ensuring long-term employment security, strengthening the collective bargaining coverage and enhancing the competitiveness of key industries. In order to finance these investments, the party manifesto calls for a reform of the debt brake.

The SPD is committed to both national and European climate targets, advocating for a just climate transition that considers social inequalities. Germany is to become climate neutral. To this end, the party calls for the expansion of wind energy and photovoltaic systems, as well as the promotion of local heat planning.

In terms of transport policy, the SPD supports the implementation of a general speed limit of 130 km/h on the Autobahn to enhance road safety and decrease the environmental impact. The party also emphasises the expansion of infrastructure for electric mobility, including the rapid development of charging stations and incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles, as part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. The SPD also aims to continue its large investments in rail infrastructure to modernise the Deutsche Bahn and restore its reputation for punctuality, reliability and capacity.

In terms of health policy, the SPD remains committed to advocating for comprehensive structural reforms to ensure a solidarity-based healthcare system. In its manifesto, the party calls for the introduction of a solidarity-based public insurance system, a guarantee for timely appointments, income-oriented insurance premiums, and comprehensive digitalisation efforts. The goal is to address and reduce the economic and social disparities in patient treatment.

Another key priority of the SPD in this election campaign is the reform of the pension system. The party aims to maintain a permanent pension level of 48 per cent while keeping the current retirement age.

To ease the burden on citizens, the SPD plans to reduce the VAT on food and increase the minimum wage to at least 15 Euros by 2026. Additionally, the rent control mechanism (Mietpreisbremse) is to be extended. With a comprehensive package of measures for families, the SPD places a strong emphasis on equal opportunities. Parents would be able to receive parental allowance for 18 instead of 14 months. Other measures include higher child support (Kindergeld) allowance and rental allowances (Wohngeld) as well as accessible childcare services. These measures are to be financed through a targeted increase in taxes on high incomes – a clear contrast to the tax proposals of the FDP and CDU.

The SPD reaffirms Germany’s military and economic support for Ukraine. However, the party continues to oppose the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. Under the SPD, Germany would be prepared to assume responsibility within the NATO alliance. The party also ensures that Germany’s defense budget will remain at two percent of GDP, in line with NATO obligations. Concerning national security, the SPD prioritises the modernisation of civil protection and cybersecurity to safeguard Germany against hybrid warfare and strategic disinformation campaigns from foreign entities.

The SPD election programme emphasises a strong social policy focus, targeting traditional voter groups such as workers and families, with the promise of economic growth and social justice reforms. However, with the party trailing behind the CDU and the AfD in current polls, and Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz’s low personal approval ratings, the SPD’s path to a successful election campaign will be far from easy. Focusing on social welfare policy is not only in line with the party’s values but also a clear attempt to re-direct the public discourse away from the prominent topics of migration and the state of the economy. Another apparent strategy in the ongoing election cycle is the attempt to portray Olaf Scholz as a steady, reliable figure capable of navigating complex global crises with care and diplomacy. In light of much uncertainty, given the developments in Ukraine and potential changes in U.S. policies under Trump, this may not be the worst approach. Seeing as the SPD would have a hard time borrowing other parties’ radical-change-rhetoric, as they have been in a ruling position for the past three years, the party tries to highlight its accomplishments and its promise for stability. Nonetheless, the SPD’s party manifesto may have a hard time resonating with voters who are deeply concerned about economic growth and security challenges.

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