The Left Party's party conference kicks off this Friday in Augsburg, with the European elections in 2024 and party leader Martin Schirdewan's list of candidates, which includes refugee and climate activist Carola Rackete, taking center stage. Sahra Wagenknecht's resignation and her rival party, BSW, will also be on the agenda. The conference will span three days, with Schirdewan delivering a speech on the opening day before a prolonged general debate.
The Left Party has been dealing with a series of setbacks since the 2021 federal elections, currently polling at around four percent nationwide. With Wagenknecht's separatist parliamentary group dissolving on December 6, the party leadership, including Schirdewan and co-chair Janine Wissler, is aiming for a fresh start and swaying disenchanted supporters of the Greens and SPD with a climate change protection agenda and a refugee-friendly policy.
As the conference approaches, the Left Party will discuss its approach to Wagenknecht's departure and the BSW's establishment. The party's focus will also gravitate towards their candidates and policy positions, with an emphasis on European elections. Schirdewan and Rackete lead the charge, aiming to present a united front for the impending elections.
Internal tensions and rebuilding efforts top the party's agenda, brought on by strategic and political disagreements over issues such as asylum and migration policies. A small faction of MPs has publicly backed Israel, diverging from the party's official stance. Asylum and migration have been a contentious topic for the Left Party, with the BSW advocating for stricter asylum policies, including the implementation of asylum procedures outside the EU and the deportation of criminal refugees.
Die Linke's campaign strategy is currently in flux, without a fully coherent message. In some regions, like Saxony, the party is considering the possibility of entering into a minority government with the Christian Democrats (CDU). Recent shifts in political leanings towards more conservative immigration policies have potentially helped Die Linke gain support from left-leaning voters concerned about losing a parliamentary opposition.
The Left Party is facing numerous challenges, including internal divisions, evolving electoral strategies, and the impact of Wagenknecht's split and the establishment of the BSW. The national conference aims to equip the party with the tools to navigate these obstacles and regain its footing in the upcoming elections.
