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Jan van Aken Bets on 20% for The Left in Thuringia Election
Jan van Aken, a key figure in Germany's Left Party, is optimistic about their chances in the upcoming Thuringia election. Despite polls predicting a 20% loss for the party, van Aken confidently stated to RTL and ntv that they will certainly exceed this, aiming for at least 20%.
The Left Party, led by Bodo Ramelow, has been witnessing a slight downturn, currently standing at 13-14%, a sharp drop from their 31% victory five years ago. Van Aken, who is eyeing the party's federal chairmanship, hasn't ruled out potential collaboration with the BSW, but expressed reservations over their ability to lead a state.
Van Ake's primary concern is to prevent the far-right AfD from gaining power in Thuringia. He emphasizes the importance of working together with all other democratic parties to achieve this goal, which he deems non-negotiable.
With the upcoming elections in Saxony and Brandenburg on the horizon, van Aken's focus is on gaining traction to become a contender. Last week, van Aken and Ines Schwerdtner, a publicist, announced their bid for the party's federal leadership, displacing Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan.
The party saw a dismal performance in the last European elections, garnering only 2.7% of the nationwide vote. Strategic discussions are ongoing regarding the roles of key personnel for the upcoming election. Collaboration with other democratic parties is paramount, according to van Aken, to form a united front against the far-right AfD.
