Parties - Gysi and Bartsch call for "personnel renewal" of the Left
After the devastating election results for the Left Party, its former fraction leaders Gregor Gysi and Dietmar Bartsch are calling for a new start at the helm of their party. "I am saying this openly here, we need a structural, political, and personnel renewal," said Gysi, looking ahead to the party conference in October. If things continued as they were after the result of 2.7 percent in the European election, it would "naturally be a disaster," Bartsch added. The party leadership reacted coolly to the proposal.
Since 2022, the Left Party has been led by the duo Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan. They have since then experienced a series of electoral setbacks. After the poor showing in the European election, Schirdewan hinted that he might consider stepping down at the party conference. "I will inform you in due time whether I will run again," he said last week to the "Tagesspiegel." Schirdewan also indicated that "business as usual" was no longer an option. He had already spoken of possible personnel consequences on election day.
"Personal debate counterproductive"
Left Party business manager Katina Schubert criticized the timing of Gysi and Bartsch's statements before the state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg in September. "A personal debate before the elections is counterproductive for our support," Schubert said. The party leaders had already arranged a process with the state chairs to come to a content, strategic, and personnel presentation for the federal election. A meeting for processing the European election results is scheduled for the weekend.
Schubert passed the ball back to former functionaries like Bartsch and Gysi, who had led the Left Party at different times. The problems of the Left Party are not new, the business manager said. "All those who have held responsibility in the party and the Bundestag faction in recent years should reflect critically on themselves instead of publicly attacking others," Schubert urged. "More 'together, less ego' should now be our motto."
Gysi and Bartsch keep their candidacy open
Gysi, who has held various leadership positions in the SED/PDS and its successor parties since 1989, is not only known as one of the most prominent Left Party politicians. He helped secure one of three direct mandates, enabling the Left to regain parliamentary strength in the Bundestag despite falling below the 5-percent threshold. Neither Gysi nor Bartsch (66) have decided whether they will run again in 2025.
It depends on the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court regarding the electoral law, Gysi (76) said. The Karlsruhe judges are currently reviewing whether it is constitutional for the traffic light coalition to abolish the three-mandate clause. A judgment is expected this month.
The Left Party has been mired in a directional dispute and crisis since then. In October, the party lost one of its most prominent politicians, Sahra Wagenknecht. She founded the Left Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and gained 6.2 percent of the votes from nowhere in the European election. Many votes came from the Left. Wagenknecht campaigned on her stance on the Ukraine conflict: no weapons for Kiev, negotiations with Russia, lifting of sanctions, return to direct imports of oil and gas.
In social- and economic policy, Wagenknecht has adopted many things from the Left, such as the demand for higher pensions, wages, and health services. However, in climate-, migration- and social policy, she puts on the brakes - unlike the Left.
- In response to the Left Party's dismal performance in the European elections, prominent figures like Gregor Gysi and Dietmar Bartsch have advocated for a comprehensive renewal within the party, including structural, political, and personnel changes.
- Since the duo of Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan has taken charge of the Left Party in 2022, they have faced a string of election defeats, and Schirdewan has hinted at the possibility of stepping down during the party conference.
- Left Party business manager Katina Schubert criticized the timing of Gysi and Bartsch's calls for renewal, stating that a personal debate before the state elections in September was counterproductive and could harm the party's support.
- Schubert urged previous leaders like Gysi and Bartsch to reflect on their roles in the party's struggles instead of publicly attacking others, proposing a more collaborative approach with the motto "together, less ego."
- Neither Gysi nor Bartsch has announced their plans to run for leadership positions in the 2025 elections, with their decision depending on the outcome of the Federal Constitutional Court's review of the traffic light coalition's electoral law.
- The Left Party has been grappling with a leadership crisis and internal disputes since October 2021, with high-profile figure Sahra Wagenknecht leaving the party and founding the Left Wagenknecht Alliance, which gained significant votes in the European elections.
- Wagenknecht's political stance on the Ukraine conflict and energy policy has garnered support from many former Left Party voters but also sparked criticism from within the party, further dividing its members and ultimately contributing to its poor election results.
