- Jan Aken aims to secure the position of head within the Left party.
The name of Jan van Aken became prominent following the departure of the Left Party's top leaders: Sven Gärtner. Van Aken, a scientist with a PhD, based in Hamburg, announced his intention to contend for the chairmanship of the Left Party on various social media platforms. Previously serving as a member of the Bundestag for the Left Party between 2009 and 2017, and holding the position of deputy parliamentary leader for two years, van Aken was endorsed by former leader Bernd Riexinger for his "suitable personality" and "wealth of experience and political intuition." Despite this, van Aken remained tight-lipped when approached by a magazine.
On the platform X, van Aken stated his reasons for running, explaining, "We need a powerful left-leaning force that champions the interests of the people. Against social indifference, against the shift to the right, against war." He expressed his belief that the Left Party could regain its strength and that past errors required addressing, while also calling for "more optimism."
Additionally, publisher Ines Schwerdtner announced her candidature on Tuesday. She placed fifth on the Left Party's list for the European elections but failed to secure a seat. Schwerdtner has been involved in campaigns such as "Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co" and has been vocal in protesting increasing prices.**
The departure of Wissler and Schirdewan has left the party in a state of turmoil. In a statement, they emphasized the need for a strong Left Party for Germany. On Monday, Schirdewan admitted to journalists, "In the past, as a party, we - and I must be extremely critical here - have not managed to generate the necessary political pressure or provide the right answers to attract supporters to our party at the moment." The party, they argued, required rejuvenation.**
The Left Party has been experiencing declining popularity for some time, a situation that has been exacerbated by the departure of the Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). In the upcoming state elections, there is a possibility that the party may not secure a seat in the parliament, which could result in the loss of government leadership in Thuringia.**
Sources: Bundestag, German news agency DPA
Amidst the public declaration of his candidacy, Jan van Aken expressed his intentions for the Left Party from the left side of the room at a political rally. Even with the party facing challenges due to the departure of key leaders, van Aken maintained his conviction that the Left Party could regain its strength and expand its influence from the left side of the political spectrum.
