Following his defeat in the primaries of the SPD’s main northern candidate for the 2027 state election in Schleswig-Holstein, Serpil Midyatli will step down from his position as state chairman of the SPD. He informed the state executive council of his decision and suggested the outgoing mayor of Kiel, Ulf Kampf, as his successor, whom he defeated in primaries at the weekend, according to a letter from the politician to SPD members, which was made available to the German Press Agency.
He agreed with Kampf that the handover of the state presidency should be carried out in an orderly manner. “In February 2026, the state party’s extraordinary conference will elect a new chairman. Until then, Ulf, as our main candidate, will make all the necessary preparations. And I will take care of a good transition,” promised the 50-year-old.
Kampf won the primaries as the SPD’s main candidate
The SPD North wants to contest the 2027 state election with Kampf as the top candidate. He was supposed to challenge incumbent Prime Minister Daniel Günther of the CDU. In the membership decision, Kampf clearly won with 79.76 percent against the SPD state leader (20.24 percent).
In a joint video message to SPD members, Midyatli fighters thanked “for years of tireless work to SPD». Your handling of the primary election results demonstrated excellence. “I am proud to be the top candidate and ready to assume the responsibilities of state chairman,” he said.
As the top candidate and “hopefully also the widely supported state chairman,” he will form a “super team” with state parliamentary group leader and opposition leader Midyatli. “Together we are invincible – the two of us and we as the SPD in Schleswig-Holstein,” said Kampfer.
A special party conference will elect a new state chairman in February
He wants to make the transition at the top of the country’s executive council fair. “And I suggest that we hold a special party conference in February to coincide with the election and, until then, pave the way for a partnership that is as fair as ever,” Kampfer said.
Midyatli called on comrades to unite, “because there are still many things we have to face and of course we want to prepare well now.”
Even during the membership decision, he assured that if the fighters won, he would do everything to ensure that he became the next prime minister, Midyatli said.
Only Midyatli and warriors take part in membership decisions. 6,228 SPD members in the north cast their votes. This number includes 6,157 valid votes. According to the party, this means that the results are binding on delegates to the party-list conference.
Kampf is Secretary of State for the Environment in Habeck
This 53 year old fighter is a former Minister of the Environment under Schleswig-Holstein Environment Minister Robert Habeck (Green Party). He has served as Mayor of Kiel since 2014, but does not want to run again as head of government in the city.
Midyatli was elected to lead SPD North in 2019 – as Ralf Stegner’s successor. He has also been a federal deputy chairman. He has been chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the state parliament since 2023.
Midyatli was born in Kiel in 1975 as the child of Turkish immigrants and grew up in the city on the fjord. In 2000 he joined the SPD. Apart from politics, this mother of two and Muslim has also realized herself as an entrepreneur.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251110-930-275316/2
