(de-news.net) – The SPD leadership has proposed party leader Lars Klingbeil as the new chair of the Bundestag faction. This announcement was made by the current faction leader, Rolf Mützenich, after a party presidium meeting. In response to the poor performance in the federal elections, Klingbeil called for a reorganization of the party both in terms of personnel and program.

Klingbeil indicated at the Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin that the election result necessitates significant changes and a generational shift within the SPD to restore it as a “people’s party of the left-center.” Klingbeil was unanimously proposed by the party leadership for the role of faction leader.

Saskia Esken is expected to continue as co-chair. The election for the new SPD faction leader is scheduled for Wednesday. The SPD recorded its worst result in a federal election, with ARD and ZDF projections late on election night placing the Social Democrats at 16.5 percent, the lowest in any previous federal election.