GERMANY:LEADING GERMAN Social Democrats have expressed hope that former leader Franz Müntefering will return to unite the enfeebled party ahead of next year's general election.
Mr Müntefering (68) was Gerhard Schröder's right-hand man and took over the party leadership to sell the chancellor's economic reform programme to a sceptical party and public.
Seen as a moderator between the party's right- and left-wings, he stood down as labour minister and deputy chancellor last November to care for his ailing wife, Ankeptra. She died last month after a long illness and Mr Müntefering has indicated to party colleagues that he might consider a new front-bench role.
"He is an integrating figure and, for many in the party, simply indispensible," said Johannes Kahrs, a spokesman for the party's conservative right wing.
Not everyone in the party would welcome him back. Mr Müntefering crossed swords with his successor as party leader, Kurt Beck, ending in a showdown over Mr Beck's plans to water down Schröder-era reforms.
Mr Beck's strategy to staunch the flow of support to the newly formed Left Party was popular with party grassroots but failed to have the desired effect. The party is still losing members and languishing in the polls, with just 23 per cent support.
Mr Beck is increasingly perceived as a lame-duck leader, while Mr Müntefering is remembered by SPD members, journalists and even political rivals as an intellectual wit and a stabilising influence on the grand coalition in Berlin.
He once attracted world headlines for describing hedge funds buying up German companies in grand style as "locusts" .