Martin Hikel, 37, has been the district mayor of Berlin-Neukölln since March 2018. After completing his studies in political science and mathematics for teaching at Freie Universität Berlin in 2013, he worked as a teacher. Hikel decided to run for the position of the Berlin SPD state chairman following the announced resignation of Franziska Giffey. Despite the party’s low approval ratings at 16 percent, Hikel, along with Nicola Böcker-Giannini, aims to offer the party a new direction to avoid ending up at a 14 percent standstill.
A recent election analysis commissioned by the SPD after the 2023 repeat election paints a grim picture of the party’s current state, describing deep divisions and distrust within the party leadership. Hikel attributes this division to the lack of a common foundation and the presence of conflicting ideologies within the party, emphasizing the need to rebuild this foundation. He has expressed a clear rejection of the current SPD policies, advocating for an end to the “Free City” concept that has led to the indiscriminate distribution of resources without significant qualitative improvements in areas such as education and public transport.
Hikel criticizes the 29-Euro public transport ticket, a central promise of the SPD, as unsustainable in the current budgetary climate. He believes that the implementation of such policies should be critically assessed to ensure their effectiveness. While acknowledging the benefits of free education and transportation in Berlin, he highlights the issue of social segregation in schools and the need for greater quality and equity in the education system. Hikel proposes a return to income-based fees for certain services to ensure a fair and effective distribution of resources.
As a teacher himself, Hikel advocates for a more personalized approach to education, citing the success of programs like Campus Schools that cater to students’ individual needs and provide comprehensive support from early childhood to higher education. He also suggests considering limited residential development on the Tempelhofer Feld, a former airfield in Berlin, to address the housing shortage in the city center without compromising recreational activities on the site. Hikel’s proposals signify a departure from traditional SPD policies, aiming for a more sustainable and equitable approach to governance.
Despite being the junior partner in a coalition with the CDU, which has faced criticism from SPD members, Hikel defends the coalition as a source of stability and emphasizes the need for tangible results. He argues against the notion that the SPD should only regenerate in opposition, asserting that the party must continue to strive for active participation and address the challenges of the present to shape a new future. Hikel’s focus on social issues, such as combating anti-Muslim racism and antisemitism, highlights his commitment to promoting inclusivity and tolerance in Berlin.
