Berlin's Left Party set to tackle twin challenges head-on
In Berlin, Germany, the co-leadership of Die Linke (The Left) is set to change, with Franziska Brychcy and Maximilian Schirmer stepping up to take the reins. The current state leader, Katina Schubert, has announced she will not seek re-election at the party conference in May.
Franziska Brychcy, born in 1984, and Maximilian Schirmer, born in 1990, have both made their mark within the party. Brychcy is the education policy spokesperson of the Left parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, while Schirmer serves as the Left parliamentary group leader in the Pankow district assembly and is active in the state working group against fascism.
The duo has expressed a commitment to strengthening member and youth work within the party, as well as forming alliances with associations, trade unions, and initiatives. They aim to continue the work started by Katina Schubert, positioning Die Linke as a fighting and intelligent opposition force.
Brychcy and Schirmer have made it clear that they intend to focus on social justice, worker rights, and criticising neoliberal policies, which are the broader objectives of the party. However, specific details about their individual goals are not yet available.
In the past, Brychcy has demonstrated her engagement in local political issues, having submitted written inquiries to the Berlin Senate. Schirmer's position as co-leader suggests he is actively involved in shaping the party's direction in Berlin.
The new leaders have also stated their intention to improve Die Linke's performance in the next election, which is expected in about three and a half years. They aim to fight against exploitation, privatization, and the sell-out of the city, a stance that resonates with the party's core values.
It is worth noting that Die Linke remains unusually strong in Berlin, but has consistently lost support during its time in government. The party received 12.2 percent in the repeat election in February, a 3.4 percentage point decrease from 2016.
In 2020, Franziska Brychcy ran for the position of parliamentary group leader but lost to Anne Helm. Despite this setback, Brychcy has demonstrated resilience and determination, positioning herself well for her new role as co-leader.
Kipping and Lederer, who were previously rumoured to run for the state chairmanship, have denied these rumours and have stated their intentions to continue working in Berlin in different roles. This leaves the field clear for Brychcy and Schirmer to take the reins and steer Die Linke in Berlin towards a brighter future.
Die Linke's new co-leaders, Franziska Brychcy and Maximilian Schirmer, intend to focus on social justice, worker rights, and criticizing neoliberal policies as they strive to improve Die Linke's performance in the upcoming election. The duo aims to continue Katina Schubert's work by strengthening member and youth work, forming alliances, and positioning Die Linke as an intelligent opposition force in German politics.
