After heated Middle East debate: Left party conference continues
At its national party conference in Augsburg today, the Left Party plans to begin nominating its candidates for the European elections in June. Party leader Martin Schirdewan and non-party activist Carola Rackete want to stand as the leading duo. Late on Friday evening, the delegates argued heatedly about the Left's position on the Hamas attack on Israel and the Gaza war. However, a compromise motion ultimately received a broad majority.
This calls for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate release of the Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas. The paper emphasizes Israel's right to exist and the goal of a two-state solution, but criticizes the "excessive bombardment" of the Gaza Strip by Israel with many civilian casualties. "Israel has the right to defend itself", the paper states. "But the crimes committed by Hamas do not absolve Israel of its responsibility under international law." Anti-Semitism in Germany is condemned, but anti-Muslim resentment is also warned against.
"Act of eliminatory disinhibition"
The compromise motion negotiated in advance was important to the party leadership in order to prevent the Left from appearing divided on the issue. However, it became clear during the debate that some on the left held more extreme positions. Delegate Nick Papak Amoozegar, for example, accused Israel of "genocide", the "targeted destruction of a people" and "ethnic cleansing". There were shouts of protest from the ranks of the delegates.
Former Berlin Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer complained that some on the left had not understood the profound turning point of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. It was an "act of eliminatory disinhibition" and a new category, said Lederer.
Motion criticizes Wagenknecht and co
The second stage of the party conference began in the morning with speeches by Bundestag parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch and Left Party leader Janine Wissler. Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow is also expected to attend. In addition, a motion to persuade MP Sahra Wagenknecht and nine other former Left Party members of the Bundestag to resign their seats will be debated.
Wagenknecht and her supporters left the Left Party on October 23 to form a rival party. Due to the split, the parliamentary group will also disband on December 6. A motion to the party conference states that the events have severely damaged the Left Party. "Our party is in a critical phase. Regaining lost trust and returning to its former strength will be a long road." However, more than 700 new members since October 23 are an encouraging sign.
At the opening of the party conference, the two chairpersons Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan had already encouraged the party. The separation from Wagenknecht allows for a new beginning. "The Left is back," they both said. In the general debate that followed, there was hardly any opposition or criticism of the chairpersons. Many delegates expressly supported the line in favor of strict climate protection and against restrictions on the right of asylum.
At the debate on the Left Party's stance on the Middle East conflict, some delegates, like Nick Papak Amoozegar, expressed more extreme views, accusing Israel of geneticide and ethnic cleansing. Despite this, the compromise motion, which Wagenknecht and her allies had initially opposed, received a broad majority.
The motion at the party conference also criticizes Wagenknecht and her supporters for leaving the party and forming a rival group, which has caused significant damage to the Left Party. Wissler and Schirdewan, however, saw the separation as an opportunity for a new beginning, and many delegates supported their stance on strict climate protection and opposing restrictions on the right of asylum.
Parties: Left Party, rival partyLeft: Party leader Martin Schirdewan, delegates, MP Sahra Wagenknecht, Nick Papak AmoozegarWagenknecht: Left Party member, former Left Party MP, supporterWissler: Left Party leader, co-chairpersonSchirdewan: Left Party co-chairpersonWagenknecht and co: nine other former Left Party MPsLederer: Former Berlin Senator for CultureRackete: Non-party activistIsrael: accused of genocide, right to exist, excessive bombardment of Gaza StripGaza: attacked by Hamas, many civilian casualtiesHamas: terrorist attack on Israel, targeted destruction of a people, ethnic cleansingMotion: to nominate candidates for European elections, to persuade Wagenknecht and others to resign, compromise motionDebate: heated, generalSplit: between Wagenknecht and the Left PartyCriticism: of the chairpersons, of restrictions on the right of asylumSupport: for the chairpersons, for strict climate protectionEncouraging sign: over 700 new members since October 23New beginning: for the Left Party, after the separation from Wagenknecht
Source: www.dpa.com
