A Fresh Look at Old Rivalries: Union Ponders Potential Partnership with The Left Party
The political association deliberates its rapport with the Left Political Party
union, left party, cdu, politics
The Union's recent ruckus over the Chancellorship has stirred internal discussions regarding partnership with the Left Party. To secure another round of voting in the Bundestag, the CDU/CSU has entered talks with the Left, but the CDU has an incompatibility resolution against them.
Chancellor's chief of staff Thorsten Frei is open to reevaluating this resolution. "We've gotta talk about it," the CDU politician said in a chat with ntv. While the resolution can't be scrapped from the CDU federal party congress easily, "there's no denying we're in a situation where we need to reassess a few questions."
The CDU's election fiasco on Tuesday left many questioning their future moves. With Friedrich Merz's surprising defeat in the first round, a second round on the same day required the votes of two-thirds of the MPs. However, this majority could only be achieved with the AfD, considered securely right-wing extremist, or the Left Party. Thus, the Union found themselves in a bind, executing talks with the Left despite their resolution. This resolution was set in a CDU party congress back in 2018.
The CDU's Carsten Linnemann addressed the issue on Tuesday night in ZDF. Linnemann pointed out that procedural matters had already been sorted between the parliamentary business managers, including during the Chancellor's election. Nevertheless, he stated, "But we have this incompatibility resolution, and it stands." While the Left carries left-wing extremist currents, Linnemann hinted at an openness for future discussions. "The CDU is a party that tackles such matters openly."
On Wednesday, the new Union parliamentary business manager Steffen Bilger clarified on Welt broadcaster that the new talks with the Left were "not about substantive cooperation." "The incompatibility resolution still applies," Bilger insisted. However, he conceded that there would be situations in the Bundestag where talks with the Left would be necessary, such as on organizational matters.
The Left Party's leader, Ines Schwerdtner, has urged the Union to engage more closely with her party in the future. She expects the Union to engage in discussions not only during crises but also in other political decisions that require a two-thirds majority. Schwerdtner expressed her belief in "democratic parties being able to talk to each other."
The Union steered clear of talks with the AfD during the Chancellor election. The CDU also has an incompatibility resolution against the AfD, which the Constitution Protection Authority has recently classified as "undeniably right-wing extremist."
AfD leader Alice Weidel accused the CDU of trying to strike a deal with the Left. She stated, "It's already clear that a small coalition of the Union and SPD will barely be able to govern."
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While the article doesn't specify recent developments, it's worth mentioning that the Left Party has had a rocky history with other political parties due to ideological differences. The emergence of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, a left-wing party, could potentially alter political alliances in the future. The CDU has expressed concerns about the new party's political stance, particularly its anti-Americanism and perceived proximity to Putin. The future implications of any reassessment of incompatibility resolutions would depend on how the parties approach political alliances in the face of evolving political landscapes.
The Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, recognizing the CDU's involvement in politics and policy-and-legislation. The Left Party, in general news, has urged the CDU to engage more closely with them in future political decisions, reflecting a desire for potential partnerships beyond ideological differences. The CDU's incompatibility resolution against the Left Party, set in a CDU party congress back in 2018, remains a challenge, but chats on WhatsApp and talks between political leaders suggest a willingness to re-evaluate. However, the CDU maintains that the incompatibility resolution still applies, signifying that any partnership with the Left would be limited to organizational matters, and not substantive cooperation.
