- Critics from the progressive camp express self-doubt following their decision to retreat.
The Co-Chairs of The Left, Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan, have given themselves a good old bashing after announcing their resignations. They acknowledged that sometimes engaging with political rivals and current situations just wasn't enough, according to Wissler at a press conference in Berlin.
Wissler mentioned the split of the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW) led by Sahra Wagenknecht as a major factor. "Because we pumped in a whole lot of resources, energy, and time into this squabble," she explained. She thought the split was necessary and could've been initiated sooner.
The 43-year-old highlighted that internal strife within the party has been a significant problem recently. Criticism from party members, claiming that The Left no longer stands for social issues, has left a "dire impression." "If we claim to be the party of unity, we need to practice unity within our ranks too," Wissler stated.
Co-Chair Schirdewan also urged that internal party squabbles should not be aired out in public going forward. Despite the BSW's split, this issue persists. "There's always some uncomfortable noise in the background," Schirdewan said.
Timing the Exit
On Sunday, the two chairs announced they wouldn't seek re-election at the next party congress in October. The Left received only 2.7% of the votes in the June European elections, increasing pressure on the party leadership. However, Schirdewan maintained that their departure was a self-determined move. "I didn't feel pressured," he said.
The departing chairpersons explained their decision to pull out two weeks before the eastern state elections. Elections in Saxony and Thuringia are followed by the Brandenburg state election just three weeks later, Wissler explained. They also wanted to give potential successors enough time to prepare. Wissler attributed their delay in announcing their departure to the budget dispute in the traffic light coalition and the possibility of new elections.
After stepping down from the party leadership, Schirdewan plans to concentrate on his role as the Left's parliamentary group leader in the European Parliament. Wissler intends to continue her work as a Bundestag deputy from Hesse.
The announcement of their resignations by Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan mentioned the Alliance Sahra wagon as a context they had to deal with, given its role in the split of the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW). In the midst of internal party strife, the departing Co-Chair Schirdewan emphasized the need to avoid airing out internal squabbles in public, as the Alliance Sahra wagon's split continues to leave "some uncomfortable noise in the background."
