Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Following the SPD 's defeat in the federal election of 2009 , MÃ 1\/4 ntefering resigned from the position of party chairman of the Social Democratic Party .
Simplified: Franz MÃ 1\/4 ntefering ( born January , 16th , 1940 ) is a German politician . He used to be Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany ( SPD ) .