The Affluence of the Left Appears Unmistakable

Party Drama at the Last Moment: The Left's Comfort is Apparent

Extreme Left Group's Actions Unmistakably Blatant and Overt

By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz

The Left's annual gathering in Chemnitz was meant to be a harmonious affair, largely succeeded. However, lingering conflicts kept resurfacing: antisemitism, Israel, armament, Russia, and governing. It seems not every Leftist is on the same page.

In the closing moments of the conference, the leadership took a clear hit. A motion that party leader Jan van Aken had strongly opposed nonetheless managed a narrow victory: 213 delegates backed a resolution officially endorsing the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

While it may seemrun-of-the-mill, it's a controversy, even if it doesn't appear that way in the conference's frenetic atmosphere. "A devastating resolution," criticizes Thuringia's Left representative Katharina König on Bluesky, "This means the majority has opted that the Left no longer advocates against EveryAntisemitism."

Politics Stance Update: According to political analysts, the Jerusalem Declaration is a contentious document, and it's no wonder van Aken opposed the motion. Some experts view this declaration as watering down antisemitism. On the other hand, proponents argue the resolution aims to provide clear content to counter false, disparaging accusations against the Left.

Only 183 Delegates Sided with van Aken

Van Aken proposes that the Left reached a promising compromise at last year's conference in Halle regarding the Middle East conflict. This meticulously negotiated resolution aimed at establishing the party's position on the matter. Proponents find this unsatisfactory, seeking "content clarity" to refute unjust accusations of antisemitism and continue cooperation.

Jan van Aken briefly intervenes but fails to initiate an in-depth discussion due to time constraints. He states, "I oppose concluding a scholarly debate through a party conference resolution – it can't happen." In the morning, the conference commemorated late Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.

Controversy Explained: A vehement opponent of van Aken, MEP Özil Demirel-Böhlke argues there's no scholarly debate but two competing definitions – the Jerusalem Declaration and IHRA. Demirel-Böhlke argues that based on IHRA, any criticism of the Israeli government can be labeled as antisemitism.

In the digital vote, 183 delegates follow van Aken's appeal, and 40 abstain. Dozens of delegates are missing at this juncture.

Is it About Meaning or Cooperation?

The debate underscores an underlying discussion permeating the entire conference. A significant number of delegates in Chemnitz wear a kufiya to display solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Not only Katharina König, but other Leftists express dismay on Bluesky. It's not about definitions, writes former MP Martina Renner, but the ability to exonerate individuals and groups from antisemitism charges to maintain cooperation. It should be noted that the Jerusalem Declaration does not state that denying Israel's right to exist is antisemitic.

The Middle East dispute has been a contentious issue within the party for a long time, and it has increasingly leaned against Israel. Several prominent members have already left the Left due to this issue, including former Berlin Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer. Interestingly, on Tuesday, Left party federal board member Ulrike Eifler posted a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, which did not depict Israel's borders correctly. Two days later, the party executive publicly disavowed "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, denies or denigrates Israel's existence or promotes its destruction."

Political Compromise: In Chemnitz, the party executive had already negotiated a Middle East resolution aimed at cooling tensions. It merely echoes accusations that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, but does not make the charge explicitly.

Point of Contention: The conference debate focused on Israel, but Israel was not the only point of contention. Other contentious issues included defense policy and cooperation with Russia. A delegate from Hesse stated during the evening debate on Friday that she experiences "a stubborn adherence to ideologies that are increasingly disconnected from reality" among certain party members, particularly in war and peace issues.

While such positions are not the majority within the Left Party, they were voiced openly. Over the weekend, the conference unanimously rejected the reintroduction of conscription and other mandatory services.

A motion demanding the resignation of The Left Party ministers and senators in the state governments of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern received considerable applause. "We are accountable to our class and the people, and we have no responsibility to a system we reject," said one of the proposers. This sentiment likely represents a minority but is noticeable.

Success Shrouded in Question Marks

In the end, all the ongoing conflicts were overshadowed (or papered over). The assembled members appreciated the familiar slogans, and this will likely sustain for some time. However, it remains uncertain if the dissent will endure, raising questions about the Left Party's long-term success.

The Left Party's annual gathering in Chemnitz, despite initial harmony, was marked by persistent conflicts over various issues, such as antisemitism, Israel, armament, Russia, and politics.
The conference saw a contentious moment when a resolution officially endorsing the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism passed, despite party leader Jan van Aken's opposition.
Political analysts view the endorsement of the Jerusalem Declaration as a controversial move, with some arguing it waters down the definition of antisemitism, while others claim it provides clarity to counter unfair accusations.
The Middle East dispute has been a long-standing issue within the party, with tensions escalating to the point that several prominent members, including former Berlin Senator Klaus Lederer, have left due to differing views on Israel.