- The left-wing faction in Brandenburg perceives potential advantages due to the departure of party heads.
The peak of Brandenburg's The Left sees the declared departure of federal co-chairs Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan as a prospect, also considering the September state election. "With their action, they've prepared the ground for a new start that the party can now confront jointly," stated regional leader Sebastian Walter to the German Press Agency.
The federal co-chairs of The Left announced their departure on a Sunday. They will not be vying for re-election at the party congress in Halle in October. The party has been on a decline for some time, with the departure of the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (APB) only making matters worse. New state parliaments will be chosen in Saxony and Thuringia on September 1, and in Brandenburg on September 22.
The Left's state leaders are banking on unity
It remains uncertain whether The Left will surpass the five percent threshold in Brandenburg and Saxony, thereby retaining its presence in the state parliaments. In Thuringia, there's apprehension over losing the executive leadership. In Brandenburg, the party was recently at five percent in polls.
State co-chairs Katharina Slanina and Sebastian Walter urged unity. "Following the resolution processes of the past year, the party chairs are now also initiating a personnel update with their decision," elaborated Slanina and Walter.
"We view their current move with utmost respect. We see it as an opportunity to reestablish the party leadership through comprehensive member input and ideally leave behind the divided Left. To achieve this, 'our shared dedication' is crucial."
The Left seeks to redefine itself
The Brandenburg chapter of The Left aims to retain its seat in the state parliament and secure the best possible result on September 22, both state leaders declared. The election falls right in the midst of a redefinition, during which The Left will unequivocally present itself as "the moral compass of a society where profit reigns supreme."
The mayor of Frankfurt (Oder), René Wilke, announced his resignation from the party after 24 years in June, citing disagreements with the federal political orientation.
The federal co-chairs' departure was announced on a Sunday, marking the start of a new chapter for The Left in Brandenburg. On September 22, new state parliaments will be chosen, including in Brandenburg, where The Left aims to retain its seat.
