Ermittlungen: Berliner SPD-Kandidat geht im Spenden-Krimi in die Offensive

Spencer Krach, the Berliner SPD candidate for the upcoming election on September 20th, has been thrown into controversy due to criminal investigations against him. On a press conference, the 47-year-old denied suspicions of enrichment, stating he has never accepted private donations and has never accepted a donation as the SPD leader in Berlin.

He affirmed absolute transparency and assured that his accounts will be available for inspection if necessary. Despite the investigations, Krach promised to continue campaigning for every vote for the SPD, acknowledging that his party is already performing poorly in polls. He admitted that negative impacts on his campaign have now overshadowed his focus on substantive issues and challenges for Berlin.

The SPD supports him, stating they fully stand behind him in this situation. Krach rejected a donation from Lower Saxony, with the SPD faction dismissing both political and criminal relevance, also finding the timing concerning in relation to democratic elections. The criminal investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor's Office in Hannover, but they have not disclosed specific accusations, only referring to the presumption of innocence.

Several locations in Hannover and Berlin were searched on Wednesday, including Krach's residence, where his mobile phone was confiscated. He believes he will be accused of corruption. Krach was elected as the President of the Region Hannover in 2021 but has been on leave since then, having been summoned by the Berlin SPD to become the leading candidate for the Lower House election in July 2025.

He is now also Co-Vice President of the Berlin SPD. The accusations stem from a bidding process for the reuse of a clinic land in the Region Hannover, where Krach, as the Regional President, headed the supervision board of the clinic. Two companies competed for the bid, one of which donated €9,900 to the Berlin SPD, of which Krach was the party's commissioner at the time.

He received the information on January 7th, 2026, at 15:11, and instructed the donation to be returned immediately on January 8th, 2026. He stated that he was not involved in contract negotiations but had promised the regional health center to the local community. His favored company had guaranteed the investment and announced high investments.

However, the supervisory board of the clinic made a different decision, choosing the second bidder. Krach had only expressed his dissent during the vote, and he last communicated with the company two to two and a half years prior. During the bidding process, no personal contact with the entrepreneur was established, and he did not even have a phone number for him.

He has not accepted any donation from this company, stating his personal distress over the accusation of enrichment. Krach claimed he has always drawn clear boundaries in his twelve years of political responsibility. The company in question did not respond to requests from journalists. Krach expressed surprise at the prosecutor's action so close to the Berlin election, emphasizing his belief in the independence of the judiciary.