After the resignation of co-group leader Mohamed Ali, the members of the Bundestag Dagdelen and Ernst expressed strong criticism of the party leadership. The conflict over Wagenknecht is becoming more and more apparent – and could mean the end of the group.
In the dispute over the left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht and her possible founding of a new party, the tone in the party has intensified. After co-group leader Amira Mohamed Ali had announced her withdrawal from the group leadership on Sunday evening, the members of the Bundestag Sevim Dagdelen and Klaus Ernst expressed harsh criticism of the party leadership. Both are regarded as supporters of Wagenknecht.
Dagdelen accused the party leadership of making politics “for a shrinking group of sectarians”. All those who campaigned for a policy for the majority of the population would be excluded, she told the Funke newspapers.
Ernst defended Wagenknecht again
Ernst sees “a large group of politically incompetent clowns” in the Left Party. By that he means parts of the board, but also the base. On the left, issues such as working conditions, wages, pensions or education are no longer the focus, he said BR. “There are people in the party whose contact with work is limited to the fact that they once cleared a shelf at Aldi when they were schoolchildren or students,” says Ernst.
The politician again defended Wagenknecht against criticism. The former parliamentary group leader represents “probably more than anyone else in this party” the founding consensus of the left. Ernst reiterated that he wanted to support Wagenknecht should she implement her plans to found her own new party. Leaving the group is “currently not an issue” for him.
Status as a faction on the brink
Mohamed Ali also justified her resignation on Sunday with the way the party leadership dealt with Wagenknecht.
Should Wagenknecht make good on her announcement and found her own party by the end of the year, this would very likely cost the Left Party its status as a parliamentary group in the Bundestag. As soon as only two MPs follow Wagenknecht, the number of MPs of 37 required for a parliamentary group would no longer be given. The left currently has 39 parliamentarians.