Left's Chemnitz Conference: What's Next for the Party?
Advice from the left-wing party convention in Chemnitz about their future plans or actions - Strategies for Moving Forward, Progressive Individual?
It's no secret that the Left party is on the rise. After a successful showing in the federal election, they've set their sights on long-term voter retention and integrating their influx of new members. All of this unfolds at a party conference in Chemnitz, where they'll talk tactics and themes.
Ines Schwerdtner, their federal chairwoman, made one thing clear beforehand: government power is not the ultimate goal. Instead, it's about creating change, and the Left aren't willing to compromise their principles for a political post. By the end of their four-year plan, they aim to be a firmly established force in society that can drive meaningful change.
The Left's sudden resurgence
Just before the federal election, the Left were polling at around three percent. Fast-forward to election day in February and they'd snagged 8.8 percent of the vote. Their ranks have doubled since then, swelling to approximately 112,000 members. In the next four years, their goal is to push that number up to 150,000.
Several factors played a part in their comeback after a lengthy dry spell. Ex-faction leader Sahra Wagenknecht decided to step down. A new leadership team emerged: Schwerdtner and her co-chair Jan van Aken. Unlike the Left, they've managed to work closely with the faction leadership Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann. Together, they campaigned door-to-door, focusing on housing as their central theme. Then, in January, CDU leader Friedrich Merz flirted with the idea of a joint vote with the AfD, sparking fears of a rightward shift and driving thousands of voters and new members to the Left.
Building on success and shaping the future
The Left wants to build on this momentum and score points in upcoming municipal and state elections. "We are the hope," the guiding motion of the party conference asserts. "We as the Left will play an important role in the coming years," it continues. "Focus, focus, focus" on housing, prices, and taxes for the rich is their buzzword, campaigning agility another. Their goal is a party that's needed and helpful in practical, tangible ways.
The draft also calls for a new program by 2027. "The Left sees itself as a modern socialist party for the working class," it declares. Those who sell their labor to make a living - the vast majority in society, in their view - belong to the Left. Consequently, the Left should become an "organizing class party."
The Basic Law doesn't prescribe a specific economic order, the draft maintains. "Freedom-democratically means more togetherness and for each other," it explains. To enable a new way of living together, a fundamental change is required, one that checks, breaks, and ultimately abolishes the power of the billionaires." Party leader van Aken recently made it clear that the Left stays true to its traditional goal: democratic socialism.
Gaining influence
With the specter of the Left limiting coalition governance options, they're still eager to exert influence. When a two-thirds majority is needed in the Bundestag, they'll be needed. This was evident just this week. After CDU leader Merz failed in his initial bid for chancellor, the Union approached the Left for the first time to expedite a second round of voting.
Now, the Left is calling for an end to the so-called incompatibility resolution, which excludes parliamentary cooperation with the Left. "The government will have to approach us," Schwerdtner told RND. "A two-thirds majority is required for the planned reform of the debt brake, and it won't happen without us." However, the Left isn't claiming much politically aligns. In their main motion, they sharply criticize new chancellor Merz: "In Germany, Merz embodies the shift from neoliberal transatlanticism to authoritarian right-wing populism. It's to be expected that a federal government led by Merz won't prioritize solving real problems, but will take steps towards an authoritarian economy."
Upcoming Events
- Chemnitz
- Bundestag
- Saxony
- Federal Election
- Ines Schwerdtner
- Friedrich Merz
- The Left
- Focus
- CDU
- Leader
- Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland
- Germany
- Sahra Wagenknecht
- Jan van Aken
Insights:
- Social Justice and Solidarity: The Left emphasizes its commitment to social justice, advocating for affordable housing, better working conditions, and a more equitable distribution of resources.[5]
- Environmental Protection: The party is focused on addressing climate change and promoting sustainable policies.[5]
- Anti-Militarism and Anti-Authoritarianism: Despite criticism, the Left officially positions itself against militarism and the export of weapons, advocating for more democratic participation and less authoritarian governance.[5]
- Economic Policies: The party seeks to reduce inequality by advocating for policies like the expropriation of large corporations like Vonovia, with the goal of lowering rents and increasing affordable housing.[5]
- Participatory Democracy: The Left emphasizes the importance of grassroots democracy and participatory processes.[5]
- 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, given the Left's commitment to social justice and ensuring the safety of its working members.
- At the party conference in Chemnitz, discussions regarding the Left's policies on housing, prices, and taxes for the rich are expected to be central, mirroring the city's general news focus on these issues.
- In the current political landscape, the Left's aim to become a 150,000-strong force, actively driving change, poses a potential limit to certain policy-and-legislation, particularly those that contradict their values, such as the incompatibility resolution excluding parliamentary cooperation.
- As the Left grows, its influence in German politics continues to expand, as demonstrated by recent events in which they were approached by the CDU to help expedite a second round of voting in the Bundestag, highlighting their potential role and impact in future governance decisions.
