Susanne Hennig-Wellsow resigns as leader of the Left Party. She announced this in a personal statement. She has led the left together with Janine Wissler since the end of February 2021.
After a poor performance in the general election, the Left Party is currently being shaken by a sexism scandal. Sexual assaults are said to have occurred in the Hessian state association for years. “The past few months have been one of the most difficult phases in the history of our party,” wrote Hennig-Wellsow. “Renewal is all the more necessary, and this renewal needs new faces to be credible.”
Dealing with sexism in their own ranks has “revealed the blatant deficits of our party”. She apologizes to those affected and supports all efforts that are now necessary to make the left “a party in which sexism has no place”.
Her private life situation with an eight-year-old son does not allow “being there for my party with the strength and time that is necessary in the current situation,” wrote Hennig-Wellsow. In her statement, she announced that she wanted to continue working in the Left Party, her Thuringian state association and in the Bundestag. The announced party leadership will support them.
More information coming soon on SZ.de