Chaos at the Last Moment: The Left's Uneasy Unity
The political left appears undeniably overly empowered.
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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The anticipated harmony party conference took an unexpected turn, with decades-old conflicts reemerging: antisemitism, Israel, military spending, and Russia. Governing is still a challenge for some leftists.
In the dying moments of the Left Party's conference in Chemnitz, the party leadership experiences a resounding defeat. A controversial motion surprisingly earns a narrow majority: 213 delegates vote for a resolution that aligns the Left with the so-called Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
This seemingly unremarkable decision sparked outrage, even in the chaos of the party conference. The Thuringian state parliamentarian of the Left, Katharina König, calls it a "fatal resolution" on Bluesky, asserting that the Left no longer stands for #againstEveryAntisemitism with this decision.
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The Jerusalem Declaration is contentious, with some experts viewing it as a trivialization of antisemitism. The motion's supporters, however, are indignant that their motion was set to be sent to committees - for the second time.
Party leader Jan van Aken insists that the Left found a suitable compromise during the party conference in Halle last year, focusing on their position in the Middle East conflict. Yet, the applicants are unsatisfied. One of them emphasizes, "We need to create content clarity to refute false, denigrating accusations against the Left."
Jan van Aken delivers a brief counter-argument but is met with little discussion. "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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Left Party MEP Özdemir-Böhlke strongly opposes van Aken, arguing that there is no scholarly debate, only two competing definitions: the Jerusalem Declaration and that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Demirel-Böhlke states that based on the IHRA, every criticism of the Israeli government can be labeled as antisemitism, a claim that is controversial but met with strong applause. In the digital vote, 183 delegates follow van Aken's plea – falling short of a majority. 40 abstain. Many delegates are no longer present at this point.
Is It About Definitions or Cooperation?
The Jerusalem Declaration debate is part of a larger, ongoing discussion permeating the entire party conference. Several delegates in Chemnitz wear a traditional Palestinian scarf, kufiya, to show their support for the Palestinian people.
Not only Katharina König, but other leftists are shocked on Bluesky. It's not about definitions, writes former MP Martina Renner, but about the ability to exonerate people and groups from the charge of antisemitism in order to continue cooperating. Indeed, the Jerusalem Declaration does not state that denying Israel's right to exist is antisemitic.
The dispute over Israel and the Middle East conflict has been ongoing in the party for a long time. The Left has lost numerous prominent members over this, including former Berlin Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer. He might not see a reason to return: On Tuesday, the 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 discernible. 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, denies or promotes the elimination of Israel." (For more information, click here.)
Majority for Solidarity Statement on the Middle East
Before the Jerusalem Declaration resolution, the party executive had negotiated a Middle East resolution aimed at easing tensions. It only mentions the accusation of genocide in Gaza without explicitly making the accusation itself. The resolution received broad support from the party delegates.
The same old points of contention
The relationship with Israel and the debate over the antisemitism definition were just two aspects of the Left's long-running dispute that flared up in Chemnitz. It was supposed to be a party conference of harmony, but the old conflicts persisted. The delegates celebrated their return to federal politics and their winning streak, assuring each other that success would continue in the upcoming elections.
"Berlin's first left mayor, that's a goal," faction leader Heidi Reichinnek declared 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 on the horizon in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
"A system we reject"
But the Left's success may be limited by internal conflicts. Other points of contention involve relationships with power, military spending, and connections to Russia. A delegate from Hesse stated in the evening debate that she sees "a persistent clinging to beliefs that are increasingly detached from reality" in parts of the party, particularly concerning issues of war and peace. "The repeated call for rearmament is ignored, despite the real reason: the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
Politics Left Party Leader Confident: "CDU Should Realize: They Can't Ignore Us Anymore" Although a significant minority holds such views, they were surprising to hear openly expressed during the conference. On Saturday, the party conference unanimously rejected the reintroduction of conscription and other compulsory services.
A motion advocating for the resignation of the Left's ministers and senators in the state governments of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern received a round of applause. "We are accountable to our class and the people, not to a system we reject," the motion's proposer asserted. Behind this sentiment is the rejection of "war credits," with several speakers drawing a parallel to 1914. However, a general rejection of government participation "under capitalist conditions" – a view that likely only a small minority supports – can also be heard.
Success Has a Question Mark
In the end, all the longstanding conflicts were overshadowed, one might say, swept under the rug. There was reliable applause for the familiar slogans. This approach may work for some time, especially as many new members may not yet be interested in resolving the old disputes. But in the long run? The success of the Left remains uncertain.
- The Left Party
- Chemnitz
- Party Conference
- Jan van Aken
- Antisemitism
- Israel
- Anti-Semitism
- Despite the anticipated harmony at the Left Party's conference in Chemnitz, decades-old conflicts reemerged, including antisemitism, Israel, military spending, and Russia, posing a challenge for some leftists in governing.
- At the last moment of the party conference, a motion aligning the Left with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism surprisingly earned a narrow majority, sparking outrage among some delegates who viewed it as a fatal resolution for the Left's commitment to stand against every form of antisemitism.
- The debate over the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism is a part of a larger ongoing discussion at the party conference, with several delegates wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf, kufiya, to show support for the Palestinian people.
- The Left Party's success in elections may be limited by internal conflicts, as other points of contention involve relationships with power, military spending, and connections to Russia, with some delegates expressing rejection of war credits and a parallel to 1914.
