Bickering at the Last Minute: The Left's Controversial Stance
Reimagined and Revitalized Account by a Discerning Scribe
The political spectrum's left wing appears excessively influential and powerful.
By Hubertus E., the Eclipse-Chaser, Chemnitz
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The anticipated event was supposed to be harmonious, and largely lived up to expectations, yet the ancient disputes persistently resurfaced: antisemitism and Israel, weaponry and Russia. Even solidarity is not a given for all leftists.
As the curtains fell on the Left Party conference in Chemnitz, the leadership took a substantial hit. A motion, against which party leader Jan van Aken explicitly opposed, still managed to secure a narrow majority in the final moments: 213 delegates voted for an amendment aligning the Left with the so-called Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
A routine matter, yet a catastrophe, claims Thuringian state parliamentarian Katharina König, on social media. With this decision, the majority has deemed, "the Left no longer stands for #antiantisemitism."
Politics Van Aken at the Party Conference: "Take to the Skies"
The Jerusalem Declaration remains polarizing, and rightly so, as van Aken positioned himself against it. Some experts see antisemitism minimized in this declaration. The proponents, however, are indignant that their motion was to be quietly relegated to committees - for the second time.
Only 183 Follow Van Aken's Lead
Van Aken asserts that the Left found a good balance at the party conference in Halle last year. In this hard-won accord, they addressed their Middle Eastern stance. That's not enough for the proponents. One states, "We require clear content to refute false, defamatory accusations against the Left."
Jan van Aken counters only briefly, but there is no genuine debate, time restraints preclude that. "I argue against concluding a scholarly debate through a party conference resolution, for we cannot act thusly." He avoided delving deeper into the discussion. Earlier in the day, the party conference honored the memory of late Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.
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Left MEP Özdemir Demirel-Böhlke intensely opposes van Aken, saying that there is no such scholarly debate, only two opposing stances: the Jerusalem Declaration and that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Demirel-Böhlke claims that based on the IHRA, any criticism of the Israeli government can be categorized as antisemitism. This is highly debatable, but she gains strong approval. In the digital vote, 183 delegates follow van Aken's recommendation - not quite enough. 40 abstain. Multiple delegates are absent at this juncture.
Is it about Definitions or Cooperation?
The debate symbolizes an undercurrent of conversation that has run throughout the entire party conference. Several attendees are sporting a kufiya in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Not just Katharina König, but other leftists are disheartened on social media. It's not about definitions, reveals former MP Martina Renner, but about exonerating individuals and groups from charges of antisemitism to maintain cooperation. True, the Jerusalem Declaration does not explicitly denote denying Israel's right to exist as antisemitic.
The debate about handling Israel and the Middle East conflict has been a contentious issue in the party for quite some time, and it's leaning increasingly against Israel. Various prominent members have departed the Left on this issue, including former Berlin senator for culture Klaus Lederer. He may not find a compelling reason to resume membership: On Tuesday, Left party federal board member Ulrike Eifler tweeted a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank with unclear Israeli borders. Two days later, the party leadership issued a statement disavowing "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, denies the existence of Israel or promotes Israel's elimination." (Read more here.)
Majority in Favor of Compromise Paper on Middle East
In Chemnitz, the party leadership had already negotiated a Middle East resolution intended to appease emotions. It only cites the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, without explicitly making the accusation itself. The resolution received a significant majority with the leadership's endorsement.
Prolonged Issues of Discord
Antisemitism and Israel, and related matters, were merely two points of contention that surfaced in Chemnitz during the conference. It was supposed to be a conference of unity, and for the most part, it was. Delegates celebrated their comeback in the federal election and confidently predicted that their winning streak would continue in the upcoming elections.
"The first left mayor for Berlin, that's a goal," faction leader Heidi Reichinnek said in her speech on Friday. She outlined 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 harbors expectations that this will change. Elections are also approaching in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
"A System We Reject"
But the Left seems to be doing too well to avoid conflicts altogether. Other contentious issues involve the relationship with power, defense policy, and the connection to that, the relationship with Russia. A delegate from Hesse said in the evening debate that she saw "a chronic clinging to beliefs that are increasingly disconnected from reality" in certain parts of the party, specifically when it comes to war and peace matters. "The repeated call for rearmament is disregarded, which has a real cause, namely the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
Politics Left Party Leader Comfortable: "CDU Should Realize: They Can't Ignore Us Anymore" While such positions hold little sway within the Left Party, it was indeed remarkable that they were voiced at all. The conference on Saturday unanimously rejected reintroducing conscription and other compulsory services.
A motion demanding the resignation of Left Party ministers and senators in the state governments of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern garnered much applause. "We are responsible to our class and the people, and we have no obligation towards a system that we reject," said one of the proposers. Behind this sentiment is rejection of "war credits"; several speakers drew a parallel to 1914. However, the general rejection of government participation "under the conditions of capitalism" seems to be present in these views - a perspective that likely appeals to a minority. Yet, it is not only discernible but resounding.
Success Fraught with Question Marks
In response to the motion against the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, party leader Ines Schwerdtner delivered the counter-argument. "Dear comrade, I concur with your sentiments regarding content." She contested it formally: The main motion had already determined that such an event should not recur. Schwerdtner implored the party conference not to "set a precedent." This motion was rejected with 219 votes in favor, 192 against, and 39 abstentions.
In conclusion, every unresolved dispute resurfaced, one could also say: resurfaced and was largely ignored. Reliable applause echoed for the familiar slogans. This will likely suffice, at least for a while, with the recent influx of members, who likely aren't yet interested in clarifying the ancient arguments - the party has doubled its membership to over 112,000 in just one and a half years, making a comeback. But will dissent remain manageable in the long run? There is a question mark hanging over the success of the Left Party.
Source: ntv.de
- The Left Party
- Chemnitz
- Party Conference
- Jan van Aken
- Antisemitism
- Israel
- Israel-hostility
- The Left Party's stance on antisemitism remains contested, as evidenced by the narrow majority vote in favor of aligning with the Jerusalem Declaration at their conference in Chemnitz, despite party leader Jan van Aken's opposition.
- While some argue that the declaration minimizes antisemitism, proponents contend that they need clear content to refute defamatory accusations against the Left.
- The debate about handling Israel and the Middle East conflict has been a long-standing issue within the party, with frequent departures from prominent members, such as former Berlin senator for culture Klaus Lederer.
- The Left Party leader, Jan van Aken, faced criticism for his stance on the Middle East, specifically his opposition to the Jerusalem Declaration and his ownership of shares in Rheinmetall, a weapons manufacturing company.
