Rostock (dpa/mv) – The Social Democrats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have cleared the way for an increase in the number of members of the state executive board. The number of deputy chairpersons can be increased to a maximum of five in the future. So far there are three deputies. The approximately 130 delegates agreed to a corresponding change in the statutes on Saturday at the start of their party conference in Rostock with just a few dissenting votes.

SPD leader Manuela Schwesig, who is up for re-election in the afternoon, spoke out in favor of including Erik von Malottki, a member of the Bundestag from Greifswald, and Reem Alabali-Radovan, the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, in the round of deputies. The three previous incumbents Nadine Julitz, Christian level and Stefan Sternberg will also be back at the party conference.