Rewritten Article:
The Left's Dilemma: War and Peace Debate at the Conference
By: Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
Left-wing advocates debate on war and peace, with political decisions at stake in the upcoming ballot.
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Unity and harmony reign at the Left Party conference in Chemnitz, but beneath the surface lie significant differences on core issues that surprisingly have little impact on the party's decisive votes.
As the conference chair admits, the debate on the main motion, a roadmap for lasting success post-federal election, wraps up an hour earlier than anticipated. Delegates overwhelmingly approve the document, demonstrating their general satisfaction with the party's leadership.
Leader Heidi Reichinnek is a crowd favorite, exhorting the party with rousing calls of triumph and defiance against the powers that be. Ines Schwerdtner, the party's less flamboyant leader, advocates for "revolutionary kindness" and unity among the delegates amid external attacks.
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Those exultant sentiments make sense: the Left Party staged a remarkable comeback in the February election, securing six direct mandates and close to 9% of the vote, up from just three direct mandates in the past.
"Revolutionary Compassion"
Schwerdtner's tone is less abrasive than Reichinnek's, but the sentiment remains the same. She urges the party to bypass ideological squabbles in favor of mutual support as they face numerous external criticisms.
She may have had the party's recent actions in government in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Bremen in mind, which involved voting for constitutional amendments on the debt brake and special assets. On election day, the Left Party in the Bundestag played a crucial role in electing Friedrich Merz as Chancellor in the second round.
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Schwerdtner makes no secret of the fact that the Left has no plans for an alliance with the CDU: "They despise our people, and that's why we despise their politics," she says of Merz and CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann. The Union resorted to the Left in the Bundestag "because we had become too strong, because they had to." In an interview with ntv, Schwerdtner adds, "We did not want the AfD to benefit from days of uncertainty." Moreover, the CDU should recognize: "They can't get past the Left."
Despite no open disagreements at the conference, sharp criticism surfaces. A member of the party executive asks why the Left in the Bundestag had to assist "this Blackrock-Merz" become Chancellor. To the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, she says, "Our task is not to ensure that capitalism remains governable through bourgeois parties."
A Delegate from Frankfurt Am Main opines, "It would have been nice if Germany had gone without a king for three days. That would have been a small tremor in the great earthquake called capitalism." The Left Party's approval of the state governments of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Bremen for the "war credits" - she means the reform of the debt brake for defense spending - is "equivalent to facilitating entry into war."
The term "war credits" evokes World War I, and that's the aim. Karl Liebknecht, still a party icon, voted against war credits in the Reichstag during that time. Many in the audience share a common reference point with 1914, as no one comes to the defense of the two north German state associations.
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The party's goal remains consistent. The Left Party aims to become "a class-organizing party." That is: "We want to launch a comprehensive educational program to enhance the campaign capability of the party," as explained by Schwerdtner in an interview with ntv.de.
However, a series of amendments reveal underlying conflicts. These are the enduring disputes within the Left Party: the question of whether leftists should govern or focus solely on opposition, or their stance on Russia. The Anticapitalist Left faction suggests: "The Left Party should be opposition, and only more so in a few exceptional cases."
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All the amendments are ultimately rejected, except for one. The sentence "In four years, we want to be a party with 150,000 members" is dropped from the guiding motion. Some question the business-like connotation, while others think the number is too low.
Then it's about war and peace
The three-quarters of an hour saved is utilized to tackle an application about war and peace that was slated for discussion on Saturday. The party executive bundled four different applications into a compromise. This is a common practice at party conferences, but disagreements persist in Chemnitz.
The application calls for "an unwavering rejection of armament and war preparedness!" A delegate expresses frustration about this saying, "The world is in a spiral of armament, and the Left wants to disarm unilaterally, ensuring we are in no position to help anyone." For a party seeking peace, such a move would spell disaster. "At a time when 'peace without weapons' doesn't work because key actors do not cooperate, we unfortunately need a potential that ensures we are not attacked and can defend ourselves." This elicits applause. Louder applause is earned by advocating "butter over guns."
Majority, but no consensus
Another delegate asserts the Left Party is "a peace party because it is a socialist party." She references Karl Liebknecht. The world situation has changed since then, but what hasn't evolved is the realization "that we die in their wars." Then she extends support "to the Ukrainian women and men under attack as well as the Russian women and men who do not desire war." This receives strong applause.
A mix of controversy and compromise
For the party leadership, Left Party politician Wulf Gallert from Saxony-Anhalt calls for broad support for the application despite various criticisms. He suggests the application should provide a "clear alternative" to the militaristic debate in Germany. The debate reflects: This is not that. There is still a large majority in favor of the application. This blend of controversy and compromise is indeed confusing for observers at the conference. However, it is evident that this is primarily a conference of self-assurance. Chants like "Long live international solidarity," "Never again war, never again fascism," and "Class struggle is anti-racism" consistently receive applause. The debate unfolds on Saturday.
Sources: ntv.de
- Chemnitz
- The Left
- Party Conference
Enrichment Data:- To comprehend the current positions and disagreements within Germany's Left Party on war and peace, as well as their voting patterns, it is crucial to examine their viewpoints and actions in recent times. Here are the key aspects: + Anti-War Sentiment: The Left Party predominantly opposes military interventions and typically endorses diplomatic resolutions to conflicts, mirroring their criticism of military aid to Ukraine and advocacy for peaceful solutions. + Criticism of Right-Wing Alliances: Die Linke has been outspoken in opposing partnerships with right-wing parties, as observed in their disapproval of the CDU's efforts to incorporate the AfD in immigration reforms. + Support for Social and Economic Policies: While prioritizing anti-war efforts, the party emphasizes social and economic justice, affecting their stance on international conflicts.- Internal Disputes: Despite past internal friction, Die Linke has shifted towards greater unity to effectively oppose the new conservative-led government. This unity is fundamental in forming a strong opposition, particularly in response to what they perceive as a "wrong turn" by the coalition.- Voting Behavior: Die Linke normally votes against military interventions or increased military spending, aligning with their broader anti-war stance.- Support for Diplomatic Efforts: The party supports diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully, potentially including negotiations with Russia or other parties involved in international crises.- Recent Developments: Die Linke highlights its anti-war and anti-militaristic stances, seeking diplomatic solutions over military interventions. They are united in opposing the current rightward drift in German politics and are focused on effective opposition within the parliament.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the prevention of armament and war preparedness, as the debate on this matter was held on the sidelines of the Left Party conference in Chemnitz.
- The delegates at the conference showed their support for the party's stance against armament, with one delegate expressing his concern about the Left's unilateral disarmament leaving them unable to help others amidst a global spiral of armament.
- The affair over war and peace was a contentious issue at the conference, leading to discussions on a compromise application that called for an unwavering rejection of armament and war preparedness.
- Amongst the delegates from diverse states, there was a mix of support for the application and criticisms, with some arguing that the world situation necessitates the ability to defend themselves in case of an attack.
