Political Gatherings - Anti-"asylum abuse" and AfD stance prompts BSW to prepare for elections.
As calls for peace negotiations increase and East Germany's quota makes headlines, the Left Party (Die Linke) is gearing up for the Thuringian state election. During the state party conference in Erfurt on Saturday, chair Katja Wolf criticized the AfD, stating, "I believe Thuringia requires an alternative - an alternative that doesn't aim to take Thuringia back to the darkest chapter of German history with its human disrespect and ideological rot."
Wolf was elected to the top spot on the state list with 32 yes votes, five no votes, and two abstentions, while party co-chair Steffen Schütz obtained 33 yes votes, four no votes, and two abstentions. The Left Party in Thuringia holds a paltry membership of 47 individuals, with Frankfurt's decision-making previously influencing who could join and who couldn't. The Thuringian Left Party members can now make suggestions through membership applications.
The Left Party's polling in Thuringia stood between 13% and 16% - a promising forecast for obtaining representation in the state parliament. They will campaign on five core principles: peace, education, a performance-based government, social justice, and economical common sense. Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht shared, "In Thuringia, you won't make decisions about war or peace on the world stage. However, the results here - particularly in the European election and the state election - carry meaning for Berlin."
The Left Party seems to rule out a federal government coalition with the CDU. Wagenknecht emphasized this with references to CDU leaders like Friedrich Merz and CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter. In Thuringia, talks are possible. One cannot occupy a position between two extremes.
The same mentality carries into their recently adopted election program. The party condemns Russia's unlawful attack on Ukraine and pushes for "an immediate ceasefire and negotiations without preconditions." It opposes a gradual militarization of schools, protesting against Bundeswehr recruitment in Thuringian schools.
The party demands at least 50% of new public service appointments with East German applicants (with equal qualifications), particularly in the municipal and state administrations, ministries, and tenders in Thuringia's science and culture sectors.
On the topic of education, the party advocates for children to graduate primary school with proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics. In kindergartens and primary schools, the BSW supports free lunches for all children. They strive to house education and science under one ministry.
The BSW seeks deregulation in administration, allowing citizens to halt the implementation of regulations and ordinances. They also aim to reform the financing of municipalities.
On migration, they adhere to asylum law and oppose asylum abuse and uncontrolled immigration into the social systems. They demand "a halt to uncontrolled migration" and "consequent deportation of criminally active migrants." Furthermore, compulsory language courses and education tests for children aged three and over are a requirement.
Among the Thuringian BSW candidate list are individuals with past party books from the Left, Greens, and CDU. The former Thuringian Green leader Frank Augsten placed fifth, the former mayor of Hildburghausen and former state parliamentarian Tilo Kummer landed in eighth place, and former Thuringian Health Ministry press spokesman Stefan Wogawa reached position 15 via a candidate battle.
