Leftists are triumphing openly and undeniably.

The political left appears excessively influential and unassailable.

Title: A Contentious Twist at the Last Minute: The Left Struggles to finding a Consensus

Author: Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz

The party conference was meant to be harmonious, and to a degree, it was. But old disagreements kept resurfacing: antisemitism and Israel, weapon manufacturing, and Russia. Even collaboration wasn't self-evident for all leftists.

In the closing moments of the Left party conference in Chemnitz, the leadership endured a decisive defeat. A motion against which party leader Jan van Aken had explicitly opposed was narrowly passed: 213 delegates voted for a resolution that officially endorses the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

What might seem unremarkable is a scandal, despite the frenzy of the conference. "A fateful resolution," comments the Thuringian state parliamentarian of the Left, Katharina König, on Bluesky. With this decision, the majority has chosen, in her words, "that the Left no longer advocates against any antisemitism."

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The Jerusalem Declaration is a polarizing topic, and for a good reason, van Aken had opposed the motion. Some experts observe a trivialization of antisemitism in this declaration. However, the applicants argue they are merely seeking clarity to refute false accusations against the Left.

Jan van Aken delivers a brief counter-argument, yet there is no genuine discussion, as time is not on their side. "I am against ending a scholarly debate through a party conference resolution, we cannot do that." He refrains from delving deeper into the discussion.

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The Left's MEP Özdemir-Böhlke vehemently disagrees with van Aken, stating there is no such scholarly debate, only two competing definitions: the Jerusalem Declaration and that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Demirel-Böhlke maintains that according to IHRA, any criticism of the Israeli government can be labeled as antisemitism. This is controversial, but she receives strong support. In the digital vote, 183 delegates follow van Aken's appeal - insufficient. 40 abstain. Countless delegates were absent at this moment.

Definitions or Cooperation?

The debate sparks an ongoing discussion that dominates the entire conference. Several delegates in Chemnitz wear a kufiya to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people, as they express it.

Not only Katharina König, but other leftists are also concerned on Bluesky. It's not about definitions, but about being able to exonerate individuals and groups from antisemitism charges in order to continue collaborating, writes former MP Martina Renner. Indeed, the Jerusalem Declaration does not suggest that denying Israel's right to exist is antisemitic.

The conflict over how to handle Israel and the Middle East issue has been a long-standing issue within the party, and it's becoming increasingly antagonistic towards Israel. The Left has already lost several prominent members due to this, including former Berlin culture senator Klaus Lederer. He may not see much reason to return: On Tuesday, Left party federal board member Ulrike Eifler posted a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, where Israel's borders were not recognizable. Two days later, the party executive distanced itself from "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, negates the existence of Israel or promotes the elimination of Israel." (More on this here.)

Majority for Compromise Paper on the Middle East

In Chemnitz, the party executive had already negotiated a Middle East resolution aimed at pacifying tempers. It merely quotes the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, without explicitly endorsing the claim. The resolution received a clear majority with the party executive's approval.

Perennial Points of Contention

The relationship with Israel and the squabble over the antisemitism definition were just two aspects of the Left's ongoing feud that exploded in Chemnitz. It was supposed to be a party conference of unity, and for the most part, it was. Delegates celebrated their return to the federal election and assured each other that the winning streak would continue in the coming year.

"The first left mayor for Berlin, that's a goal," faction leader Heidi Reichinnek stated in her speech on Friday. She listed all the upcoming elections: communal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia in September, state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate in March 2026. The Left has never been in parliament in both federal states, and the party leadership hopes that will change. Elections are also coming up in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

"A System We Reject"

But the Left seems to be doing too well to avoid controversies. The other points of contention are about the relationship with power, defense policy, and, of course, the relationship with Russia. A Hessian delegate commented in the evening debate on Friday that she observed "a persistent clinging to beliefs that are increasingly detached from reality" in certain parts of the party, especially on questions of peace and war. "It ignores the fact that the repeated calls for rearmament have a real cause, namely the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Politics Left Party Chair Confident "CDU Should Realize: They Can't Ignore Us Anymore" While this perspective was not the majority perspective within the Left Party, it was interesting that these positions were expressed openly. On Saturday, the party conference unanimously rejected the reintroduction of conscription and other compulsory services.

A motion calling for the resignation of Left Party ministers and senators in the state governments of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern received much applause. "We are responsible to our class and the people, not to a system we reject," said one of the proposers. Behind this is the rejection of "war credits"; several speakers drew a parallel to 1914. However, the general rejection of government participation "under capitalist conditions" also seems to be at play – a sentiment that likely represents a minority, but one that is clearly audible.

Success Has a Question Mark

Party leader Ines Schwerdtner delivered the counter-argument to the motion against the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "Dear comrade, I agree with everything you've said in substance." She argued algorithmically: The main motion had already decided that such a situation should not recur. Schwerdtner urged the party conference not to "set a precedent." This motion was rejected by 219 to 192 votes, with 39 abstentions.

In the end, all long-standing conflicts were overshadowed, one could say: downplayed. There was reliable applause for familiar slogans. This may last for a while, especially since many new members are unlikely to be interested in clarifying the old disputes immediately. But in the long run? The success of the Left Party has a question mark hanging over it.

The Left Party
Chemnitz
Party Conference
Jan van Aken
Antisemitism
Israel
Anti-Semitism

The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a controversial topic, is at the center of a heated debate in the Left party, with some experts arguing it trivializes antisemitism.
The definition of antisemitism is a point of contention, with some arguing that the Jerusalem Declaration is more lenient than the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, which can label any critique of the Israeli government as antisemitic.
The relationship with Israel and the Middle East issue has been a long-standing feud within the Left party, with the party losing several prominent members due to this issue.
The Left party's positions on issues such as defense policy, Russia, and their relationship with power are also sources of contention and debate within the party.