Left's New Horizons: Shaking Things Up in Saxony's Chemnitz Conference
Progressing Ahead, Left Party: Conference Held in Chemnitz - Navigating Ahead, Progressive Comrade: Guidelines for Action
Time for a change, say the Left! A three-day party conference kicking off today in Chemnitz, Saxony, is all about setting the course for the Left's long-term strategy. With their unexpected gains in the federal election, maintaining the support of voters and integrating newcomers are top priorities. Party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner has been clear: ruling is not the goal; making a difference is.
"We're not here to wield power," Schwerdtner declared to the German Press Agency (Central News Agency - GP). "Our focus is on changing something." And they plan to start within their own party ranks, building strong foundations as a left-wing party with a unique identity. In the coming years, the Left aims to solidify their presence in society and create real, lasting change.
How the Left rose from the ashes
Just before the election, the Left was struggling to hit the three percent threshold. But on election day in 2024, they exceeded all expectations with an impressive 8.8%. In the span of a few months, their membership doubled to nearly 112,000, and they aim to reach 150,000 in the next four years.
Several factors played a role in their comeback after years of stagnation. Former party leader Sahra Wagenknecht stepped down, making way for a new leadership team consisting of Schwerdtner and her fellow chairperson Jan van Aken. Unlike their predecessors, they worked cooperatively with the faction leaders Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann, and they campaigned tirelessly on the issue of housing. In January, CDU leader Friedrich Merz flirted with the idea of allying with the far-right AfD, causing a wave of voters and new members to flock to the Left out of fear of a rightward shift.
Making a Difference, Making Noise
The conference in Chemnitz provides the Left with an opportunity to outline their plans for the future and make an impact in upcoming local and state elections. The rallying cry is simple: "We are the hope." The draft resolution states, "In the coming years, the Left will play an important role." A focus on housing, prices, and taxes for the rich, combined with a strong campaign presence, is key to becoming a party that is truly needed and can make a difference.
The draft also highlights the possibility of a new program by 2027. The Left sees themselves as a "modern socialist party for the working class" that includes all those who must sell their labor to survive. They aim to become an "organizing class party," advocating for fundamental changes that limit and eventually abolish the power of the wealthy.
Germany's Basic Law does not prescribe a specific economic order, but for the Left, democracy involves more togetherness and putting people before profits. As van Aken recently stated, the Left remains committed to democratic socialism.
Making moves to gain influence
Though coalition governance may be limited at the federal level, the Left hopes to exert influence wherever possible – even if it isn't in the driver's seat. With a two-thirds majority needed in the Bundestag for certain reforms, as shown this week when CDU leader Merz failed to secure the chancellorship in the first round, the Left will be a crucial player.
Recently, the Left has begun calling for an end to the "incompatibility resolution" used by the Union to exclude parliamentary cooperation. Schwerdtner told GP: "The government will have to approach us. A two-thirds majority is required for the planned reform of the debt brake. It won't happen without us." However, the Left does not expect everything to align politically, and they have sharply criticized the new chancellor Merz in their lead resolution.
Federal Party Congress
- Chemnitz
- Germany
- Saxony
- Bundestag
- Ines Schwerdtner
- Friedrich Merz
- The Left
- Christian Görke
- The CDU
- Heidi Reichinnek
- Sören Pellmann
- Sahra Wagenknecht
- Jan van Aken
- Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland
- Housing
- Policy Advocacy
- Coalition Building
- Public Engagement
- Media and Communication
- Policy Development
With a renewed sense of determination and a clear vision for the future, the Left is ready to take on the challenges ahead, one step at a time.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the Left's focus on making a difference and their commitment to prioritizing the well-being of their constituents.
- The Left's conference in Chemnitz has been a platform for debating and guiding policy-and-legislation, as newcomers and supporters of the party express their concerns and expectations about the party's future in German politics.
- The unexpected gains in the federal election by the Left have expedited the process of developing and implementing policies that address housing issues, taxes for the rich, and pricing concerns, which are key aspects of their new identity as a modern socialist party.
- Amidst the current political landscape in Germany, with the rise of populism and debates about coalition building between the CDU and far-right parties, the Left aims to guide the direction of policy-and-legislation to ensure that people come before profits, as demonstrated by their collaborative approach and tireless policy advocacy efforts.
