The Bundestag members of the Left applied for group status a few days before the dissolution of their parliamentary group. This threatens to result in the loss of funds and parliamentary rights. The Wagenknecht alliance is also planning such a step.
Before the planned dissolution of their parliamentary group on December 6th, the remaining Left MPs submitted an application for group status. The application had been received, a spokeswoman for the Bundestag Presidium confirmed to the AFP news agency. The Presidium will now examine this and a decision should be made “as soon as possible”.
A group has fewer parliamentary rights than a parliamentary group, for example when it comes to making questions to the government and speaking time in the Bundestag. It also receives less money from the state treasury. A Bundestag resolution is required to approve a group and determine its rights. Until this is made, it is also unclear where the Left MPs will sit in the plenary hall in the future.
The left-wing faction decided to disband on December 6th in mid-November. The background is the departure of the former parliamentary group leader Sahra Wagenknecht and nine other MPs from the party. Without it, the faction loses its minimum size for forming a faction. That would require 37 seats, the Left now only has 28.
Bartsch: “Remain the left opposition”
The previous left-wing parliamentary group leader, Dietmar Bartsch, appeared combative. We will continue to be the voice for social justice in the Bundestag. “We remain the left opposition.” The aim is to return to parliament in parliamentary group size in the 2025 federal election. “It’s hard work. Going downhill is quick, but going uphill is much more difficult.”
According to his own statements, Bartsch will also be chairman of the planned Bundestag group of the Left. He said he was unanimously asked to do so by the 28 members of the Noch parliamentary group. With the dissolution of the group, 108 employees, such as office staff, will also lose their jobs. Bartsch could not say how many of them could be taken over. This will also depend on how much money the future group will have available. First of all, after the dissolution, everyone would be given notice of termination. “We will probably keep the people who are extremely important to us, in terms of content and politics, in the new group,” said Bartsch.
Wagenknecht also wants to apply for group status
Wagenknecht and her colleagues also strive for group status. A spokeswoman said a decision will be made in the coming weeks as to when the application will be submitted. Wagenknecht wants to found a new party in January, the “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht”. Then the first 400 members should be accepted. The first party conference is scheduled to take place in Berlin on January 27th. The new party wants to run in the European elections in June and, if possible, in the three state elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in 2024.