Party Politics Rumble in the Last Moment: Left's Peaceful Congress Disrupted by Antisemitism Controversy
The Political Left Appears Overly Influential and Assertive
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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The Left Party's congress in Chemnitz, expected to be harmonious, took a dramatic turn at the end, as old disputes resurfaced: antisemitism and Israel, arms trade, and Russia. Even the notion of governing is not self-explanatory for all leftists.
In a surprising turn of events, the Left Party's leadership suffered a clear defeat at the party congress in Chemnitz. A proposition that party head Jan van Aken explicitly opposed still passed by a narrow margin: 213 delegates voted for a resolution formally aligning the party with the so-called Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
While this might seem insignificant in the bustle of the party congress, it's a controversy, as Thuringian state parliamentarian Katharina König from the Left Party commented on Bluesky. With this vote, "the Left Party abandons its stance against any antisemitism," she remarked.
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The Jerusalem Declaration is debated, and it's unsurprising that van Aken opposed the motion. Some experts view this declaration as a trivialization of antisemitism. The proposers refute this, maintaining that their motion should not be subtly referred to committees—again.
Not the Full Support of Jan van Aken
Van Aken contends that the Left Party reached a suitable compromise last year in Halle regarding the Middle East conflict. This delicately negotiated resolution addressed the Left Party's positioning. However, the proposers argue that this is insufficient, stating the need for "clear content clarity to dispute false, disparaging accusations" against the Left Party.
Jan van Aken offers a brief rebuttal but engages in minimal discussion, as time constraints do not allow for prolonged debate. "I oppose ending an academic debate through a party congress resolution," he asserts, decline to delve deeper into the debate. Earlier in the morning, the congress had reflected on the late Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.
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Left Party MEP Özel Demirel-Böhlke vigorously disagrees with van Aken, arguing that there's no such academic dispute; instead, there are two competing definitions: the Jerusalem Declaration and that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Demirel-Böhlke asserts that based on the IHRA, any criticism of the Israeli government could be misconstrued as antisemitism. This perspective is contentious, yet she earns robust applause. In the digital vote, 183 delegates support van Aken's plea—not enough. 40 abstain. A multitude of delegates are absent at this juncture.
Is It About Definitions or Cooperation?
The debate highlights an underlying discussion that infused the entire congress. Several delegates wear a kuffiyeh to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, as they put it.
Not just Katharina König, but other leftists are distressed on Bluesky. They assert it's not about definitions, writes former MP Martina Renner, but about being able to exonerate persons and groups from the accusation of antisemitism to sustain cooperation. Indeed, the Jerusalem Declaration does not suggest that denying Israel's right to exist is antisemitic.
The dispute over handling Israel and the Middle East conflict has been simmering in the party for a long time, increasingly leaning against Israel. Several prominent members have already departed, including former Berlin's cultural senator Klaus Lederer. He might find little reason to return: On Tuesday, the Left's federal board member Ulrike Eifler posted a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, where Israel's borders were unclear. Two days later, the party leadership distanced itself from "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, denies the existence of Israel or advocates for its elimination." (More on this here.)
Majority adopts compromise paper on the Middle East
In Chemnitz, the party leadership had already negotiated a Middle East resolution intended to allay concerns. It merely quotes the allegation that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, without making the accusation explicitly.
Politics Confusing Party Conference The Left argues about war and peace - then voting begins "The Israeli government and its henchmen must be held accountable," says delegate Hana Qetinaj from Frankfurt am Main, one of the applicants, in this debate. The Left has lost credibility in this question, she laments. "A false relativization during a genocide does not do justice to what is happening there." With the partnership of the party leadership, the paper receives a clear majority.
The same old bone of contention
The relationship with Israel and the dispute over the antisemitism definition were just two aspects of the Left's long-standing quarrel that resurfaced in Chemnitz. It was supposed to be a conference of unity, and for the most part, it was. The delegates celebrated their comeback in the federal election and reinforced their assurances that their success streak in the upcoming year's elections would carry on.
"Berlin's first left mayor, that's a goal," faction leader Heidi Reichinnek said in her speech on Friday. She outlined all the upcoming elections: in September, local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, in March 2026, state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The party leadership hopes that the Left will enter parliament in both federal states for the first time. Elections are also scheduled in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the coming year.
"A system we reject"
But the Left appears to be doing too well to skirt conflicts. In other disagreements, it's about the relationship to power, defense policy, and, by extension, the relationship to Russia. Wiesbaden city councilor Brigitte Forßbohm said in the evening debate on Friday that she sees elements of the party "clinging persistently to beliefs that increasingly diverge from reality." This is particularly true for questions of war and peace. "The repeated call for rearmament is overlooked, which has a significant cause—namely the Russian attack on Ukraine."
Politics Left Party Leader Confident "CDU Should Realize: They Can't Ignore Us Anymore" While such perspectives are far from being a majority within the Left Party, they were surprising to hear openly. The party conference on Saturday unanimously rejected the reintroduction of conscription and other compulsory services.
A motion demanding the resignation of the 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, and we have no responsibility 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 the conditions of capitalism" also seems to be present in these views—a sentiment that likely only a minority supports. But it exists, and it is clearly audible.
Success Tainted with Dissent
Ines Schwerdtner, the party leader, presented the counter-argument to the motion against the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "Dear comrade, I agree with you in content on everything you said." She argued formally: The main motion had already decided that such a case should not happen again. Schwerdtner urged the party conference not to "set a precedent." This motion was rejected with 219 to 192 votes and 39 abstentions.
Ultimately, all the long-standing quarrels were overshadowed, one could even say: papered over. There was hearty applause for familiar slogans. This will probably suffice for a while. Above all, the many new members are unlikely to be interested in clarifying the old controversies—the party has doubled its membership to over 112,000 in one and a half years, which is also part of the comeback. But will the dissent persist? There is a question mark over the success of the Left Party.
Source: ntv.de
- The Left Party
- Chemnitz
- Party Conference
- Jan van Aken
- Antisemitism
- Israel
- Anti-Semitism
- The Left Party, during its conference in Chemnitz, saw a controversial vote on a proposition that aligned the party with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a move opposed by party head Jan van Aken.
- The Jerusalem Declaration, a topic of debate, is seen by some experts as a trivialization of antisemitism, while proponents argue their motion should not be delayed any further.
- The Left Party leadership, in Chemnitz, had negotiated a Middle East resolution to allay concerns, however, the controversy over Israel and the Middle East conflict within the party has been simmering for a long time.
- The Left Party, despite its recent success and growing membership, appears to be unable to avoid internal conflicts, as seen in debates regarding power, defense policy, and relationships with countries such as Russia and Israel.
