Political Debate Erupts Over Military Conflicts - A Matter of Voting Decisions
Rewritten Article:
Confused Party Congress: The Left's Bickering over War and Peace
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
At the Left Party congress in Chemnitz, harmony prevails, majorities triumph, and cheers echo - or so it seems. In reality, though, there are clear disagreements on pivotal issues. These disagreements, however, remain inconsequential.
The meeting's chair is taken aback in the late afternoon. The Left Party congress in Chemnitz concluded the debate on the main motion an hour ahead of schedule. The party leadership had outlined how the Left can maintain success post-federal election within the motion.
Initially, the delegates are highly content with their leadership, as shown by the welcoming applause in the multi-purpose hall early afternoon. Faction leader Heidi Reichinnek garners particular acclaim from the delegates. "It's a notable relief to have triumphed again," she exclaims to her party. Better yet than the other three from the leadership quartet, Reichinnek embodies a revolutionary spirit that pleases the delegates: "Now they fear, all the esteemed, all the rich people, the Springer press," she cries out. The congress responds with thunderous applause.
Politicking and Comedy
The good vibes are understandable: Instead of barely securing a spot in the Bundestag with three direct mandates, the party claimed six direct mandates and nearly nine percent in the February election. A remarkable comeback indeed.
"Revolutionary Kindness"
The Left Party's leader, Ines Schwerdtner, adopts a less confrontational tone than Reichinnek but maintains an equally unyielding stance. She appeals to the party to exercise restraint in heated debates and focus instead on unity. Schwerdtner urges "revolutionary kindness" from the delegates.
She likely has recent events in mind, such as the criticism within the party of the Left state associations of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Bremen. In alliance, these states have sanctioned union-led initiatives like the reform of the debt brake for defense spending. On a separate matter, the Left in the Bundestag facilitated Friedrich Merz's election as chancellor in a second round of voting.
Politics Left Party Leader Unapologetic: "They Despise Us, So We Despise Them" Schwerdtner on the record admits that there is no ideological rapprochement between the Left and the CDU: "They despise our people, that's why we despise their politics," she says of Merz and CDU secretary Carsten Linnemann. The Union sought the Left's support in the Bundestag, Schwerdtner explains, because "we had become too strong, because they had to." In an ntv interview on the congress's sidelines, Schwerdtner made it clear: "We didn't want the AfD to gain from multiple days of uncertainty." Moreover, the CDU should realize: "They cannot surpass the Left."
There's no open disagreement at the congress, but sharp criticism surfaces occasionally. A member of the party leadership laments why the Left in the Bundestag had to help "this Blackrock-Merz" become chancellor. To the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, she says, "It's not our responsibility to ensure that capitalism remains manageable through bourgeois parties."
A delegate from Frankfurt am Main states, "It would have been nice had Germany survived without a king for three days." "That would have been a slight quake in the great earthquake that is called capitalism." The 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 aiding entry into war."
Evoking Historical Parallels
The term "war credits" reminds us of 1914, and that's the intention. Back then, Karl Liebknecht, still considered an icon today, voted against war credits in the Reichstag during the First World War. For many in the hall, 1914 remains a significant reference point. Few, if any, are supporting the two northern state associations.
Politics Left Party Leader Self-Assured: "CDU Should Realize: It Can't Get Past the Left" There is no contradiction in the basic goal of the party leadership. The Left Party aims to become "an organizing class party," according to the guiding motion. That means: "We want to launch a comprehensive educational program to amplify the campaign capabilities of the party," as Schwerdtner explained to ntv.de.
However, a series of amendment motions reveals internal conflicts in the details. These are the age-old disagreements within the Left Party: the question of whether Leftists should govern or be confined to opposition, or the party's relationship with Russia. The Anticapitalist Left faction proposes that the Left Party be "opposition and only more so in a few exceptional cases."
Politics Left Party Decides to Go Soft: "150,000 Members in Four Years" All these amendment motions are rejected—except for one. The sentence “In four years, we want to be a party with 150,000 members” is removed from the guiding motion. Some found the number too corporate-like, while others found it too low.
War and Peace – a Never-ending Debate
The saved three-quarters of an hour are spent on a matter intended for discussion on Saturday. The party board had bundled four separate applications into a compromise resolution. This procedure is common during party conferences, with other parties. Nevertheless, there are controversies in Chemnitz.
The application, among other things, demands immediate action on weapons and militarization: "Say no to armament and militarization without hesitation!" A delegate objects, "We're unilaterally disarming in a global spiral of armament so we are incapable of assisting anyone." "For a party advocating peace, this is disastrous." "In a time when 'creating peace without weapons' doesn't work because individual large powers don't play by the rules, we need a potential to ensure we are not attacked and don't have to defend ourselves.” This receives thunderous applause. Louder applause follows the call for "butter instead of guns."
Majority, but no consensus
Another delegate claims, "The Left is a peace party because it is a socialist party." Referencing Karl Liebknecht, she adds, "The world situation has evolved, but what hasn't changed is 'we die in their wars.'" She also expresses solidarity "with the Ukrainian women and men” and "with the Russian women and men who don't wish to perish in the war.” This too receives strong applause.
The party executive, Left politician Wulf Gallert from Saxony-Anhalt, advocates for the Broad Majority's resolution to pass despite dissenting opinions. It should, Gallert states, "provide a clear alternative to the militaristic debate in the Federal Republic." The debate indicates: that's not what it is. A broad majority for the resolution remains. This mix of conflict and compromise at the party conference can leave observers baffled. But one thing is certain: this is above all a party conference of self-assurance. Slogans such as "Long live international solidarity," "Never again war, never again fascism," or "Class struggle is anti-racism" are predictably met with applause. The discussion continues on Saturday.
Source: ntv.de
- Chemnitz
- The Left
- Party Conference
Enrichment Data:
The German Left Party (Die Linke) struggles with notable internal disagreements on security and foreign policy issues, particularly concerning arms, militarization, and international solidarity, which significantly impact their stance and public image.
Key Differences and Controversies
- Anti-war and Peace Orientation vs. Pragmatic Diplomacy Die Linke champions a strong anti-war stance and criticizes German and Western militarization, especially regarding the conflict in Ukraine. However, members advocate for pragmatic approaches that balance peace initiatives with strategic considerations.
- Position on Militarization The party generally opposes further militarization, such as German participation in NATO plans or US missile deployments on German soil. This stance causes debates on whether the party should support defensive measures or foreign interventions under certain circumstances.
- International Solidarity and Anti-Establishment Credentials Die Linke's stance on war and peace ties to its identity as a party opposing right-wing extremism, neoliberalism, and NATO policies. Nevertheless, criticism arises within the party on how best to achieve these objectives in the contemporary geopolitical climate.
Impact on Party Stance and Political Influence
- Policy Focus: The internal disagreements within Die Linke lead to a party that advocates restraint and diplomacy alongside a commitment to disarmament. This stance appeals significantly to voters seeking an alternative to traditional security policies while limiting the party's ability to form coalitions with more centrist parties supportive of NATO policies or military aid.
- Coalition and Electoral Politics: The Left’s rigid anti-war stance and critics maintain that it obstructs the formation of winning electoral coalitions. However, this stance also attracts voters disillusioned by traditional security policies and presents an alternative to the mainstream parties.
- Broader German Political Landscape: The Left’s positions contribute to the polarization and ideological realignment in German politics, fostering discussion on Germany's role in international conflicts and security arrangements while reshaping the political landscape.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the amendment of the war-and-conflicts politics of the Chemnitz conference, primarily focusing on WhatsApp communications within the party.
- During the Chemnitz conference, debates about the peaceful and anti-militarization stance of the Left party centered around the concept of "revolutionary kindness," with some members advocating for a balance between peace and pragmatic diplomacy.
- The general news regarding the Chemnitz conference highlighted the unyielding stance of the Left party leadership against NATO and Western militarization, particularly in relation to the conflict in Ukraine, butfragmented opinions about the party's position on defensive measures and foreign interventions.
- Despite the Left party obtaining six direct mandates in the recent election, party members discussed internal differences centered on the Chemnitz conference's war-and-conflicts politics, primarily focusing on arms and militarization, and the party's relationship with Russia in the context of war and peace.
