Those who value our free democratic constitution should refrain from working with Solinger's left-wing faction
In the city of Solingen, Daniel Schirm, chairman of the Free Democrats Solingen, has called on the SPD and Greens to rule out cooperation with the Left party in the upcoming city council. This call comes in response to the unhinged remarks made by two Left candidates, Lettmann and Heep, which have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the democratic order.
Schirm believes that any cooperation with the Left party would undermine the democratic order, a sentiment shared by many following the candidates' remarks, which included insults against the state and dreams of anarchy and burning police cars. The record-deficit budget passed by the SPD, Greens, and Left in the current period is another point of contention, adding to the growing unease about the potential for cooperation.
The Left party's nomination of Lettmann and Heep was no coincidence, as shown by its reaction to the reporting. Despite the controversy, the party has decided to stand up for its candidates, downplaying, covering up, and launching a media attack on the unhinged remarks. This response, according to Schirm, shows that the Left party is not part of the democratic spectrum.
The resignation of party spokeswoman Zerhau, who publicly criticized the statements, speaks volumes about the situation within the Left party. Schirm has emphasized that anyone who cooperates with political actors who insult the democratic order does not stand for the free democratic order.
The SPD and Greens have already passed a record-deficit budget together with the Left, but Schirm expects a clear distance to be taken from the newly aligned Left in Solingen. The Greens, for their part, have only ruled out cooperation with candidates Lettmann and Heep, a move that Schirm sees as underestimating the seriousness of the situation.
Schirm is ready for a path that leads to majorities and compromises in the democratic center, urging anyone who wants to continue standing up for democracy to consistently rule out cooperation with such political actors. The current stance of the SPD, Greens, and FDP in Solingen on cooperating with the Left party is generally cautious or negative, especially following controversial statements by Left candidates.
This cautious approach is not surprising given the broader context in Germany, where the SPD, Greens, and FDP are struggling nationally and politically distancing themselves from parties seen as radical or controversial, such as the Left party. The emergence of populist forces and controversies surrounding some Left candidates’ statements and their anti-establishment stances have made cooperation complicated.
While there is no direct, explicit statement about coalition decisions in Solingen from current sources, it is reasonable to conclude that the SPD, Greens, and FDP maintain a wary or reserved approach toward cooperating with the Left party, especially after the controversial public remarks by Left candidates.
- Daniel Schirm, among many others, believes that cooperation with the Left party in policy-and-legislation, given their controversial remarks and the record-deficit budget they've passed, could undermine the democratic order in Solingen's city council.
- Schirm's call for the SPD and Greens to rule out cooperation with the Left party is backed by the ongoing unease in Germany, where the struggle of the SPD, Greens, and FDP nationally has led to a cautious or negative stance on cooperating with controversial parties like the Left, especially after events like the unhinged remarks by Left candidates.
