Chaos at the Last Minute: The Left Seems Too Comfortable with Controversy
The political left appears excessively influential and unchallenged in certain perspectives.
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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The Left Party's congress in Chemnitz was supposed to be a smooth event, but old conflicts resurfaced, leading to unexpected drama at the close of the event: antisemitism, Israel, armaments, and Russia. Even ruling agreements aren't a given for all leftists.
In a shocking turn of events, a resolution was passed by a narrow majority - despite party leader Jan van Aken's explicit opposition. This resolution officially aligns the Left with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA), a move that has caused widespread controversy. "A step in the wrong direction," Katharina König of the Left party commented on Bluesky. "This means the majority has decided that the Left no longer stands for #againstEveryAntisemitism."
Politics: A Divisive Scandal
The JDA is contentious, and it's no wonder van Aken opposed the motion. While some experts see this declaration as trivializing antisemitism, the proposers argue that their motion was unfairly ignored. They claim it's necessary to create content clarity in order to refute false, defamatory accusations against the Left.
Van Aken argues that the Left found a good compromise at last year's congress in Halle. But the proposers weren't satisfied. In the digital vote, 183 delegates followed van Aken's appeal, but it wasn't enough. The decision was a close call: 40 abstained, and dozens of delegates were no longer present at this point.
A Debate about Definitions or Cooperation?
The controversy over proper antisemitism definitions has been at the heart of the Left since its inception. Several delegates in Chemnitz wore a kufiya to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. While some claim it's about definitions, other leftists are concerned that this move exonerates individuals and groups from the charge of antisemitism, allowing them to continue cooperating.
Indeed, the JDA does not explicitly state that denying Israel's right to exist is antisemitic. The dispute over handling Israel and the Middle East conflict has been ongoing in the party for a long time, and it's becoming increasingly one-sided against Israel. Several prominent members have already left the Left party over this issue, including former Berlin culture senator Klaus Lederer. The party leadership has had to distance itself from some questionable statements recently.
A Controversial Middle East Resolution
In Chemnitz, the party leadership had already negotiated a Middle East resolution intended to calm nerves. It does not raise the accusation of genocide in Gaza, but it did receive a clear majority in the vote. The Israeli government and its allies have been criticized for their actions, but the Left has lost credibility in this issue, with some members claiming that a false relativization during a genocide does not do justice to what is happening.
The Same Old Bone of Contention
The relationship with Israel and the dispute over the antisemitism definition were just two aspects of the ongoing dispute that flared up in Chemnitz. It was supposed to be a party conference of harmony, but the Left seems to be doing too well to avoid conflicts. Other points of contention are about the relationship with power, defense policy, and, connected to that, the relationship with Russia.
In a heated exchange during the conference, some leftists argued for a rejection of war credits, drawing a parallel to 1914, and called for the resignation of the Left Party's ministers and senators in certain state governments. However, these calls were ultimately rejected due to procedural reasons. The success of the Left Party has a question mark hanging over it, as it remains to be seen whether the dissent will persist in the long run.
- The Left Party
- Chemnitz
- Party Conference
- Jan van Aken
- Antisemitism
- Israel
- Anti-Semitism
- Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism
- Defense Policy
- Russia
- Middle East Conflict
Enrichment Data:The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition are two frameworks for identifying antisemitism. The IHRA definition includes 11 examples of antisemitic behavior, with seven examples relating to Israel. Critics argue that these examples might inhibit legitimate criticism of Israel. In contrast, the JDA aims to provide a framework for understanding antisemitism while allowing for legitimate criticism of Israel. The JDA is designed to be more nuanced and protective of freedom of speech, especially in academic and political contexts. Without specific information on the Left Party's stance, it is difficult to directly compare their position with the IHRA definition. However, if the Left Party aligns more with the JDA, it might emphasize the importance of making distinctions between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism.
- Despite party leader Jan van Aken's opposition, the Left Party in Chemnitz passed a resolution aligning with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA), causing widespread controversy within the party.
- In Chemnitz, the controversy over proper antisemitism definitions within the Left Party revolved around the wearing of a kufiya by some delegates, which despite some arguing it was about definitions, others viewed as exonerating individuals and groups from the charge of antisemitism.
- The Israeli government and its allies have been criticized by the Left Party, but their Middle East resolution in Chemnitz received a clear majority in the vote, with some members claiming that a false relativization during a genocide does not do justice to what is happening.
- The relationship with Israel, defense policy, and the relationship with Russia are ongoing points of contention within the Left Party, which was supposed to be a party conference of harmony but instead erupted in controversy at its close.
