parties
European elections: Left party conference concludes selection of candidates
At the third party conference in Augsburg, the Left wants to complete the list of candidates for the European elections. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
The party, which was plagued by crises and disputes, met in Augsburg for three days. At the end of the party conference, the focus will once again be on preparations for the 2024 European elections.
The Left is concluding its three-day party conference in Augsburg today. The list of candidates for the European elections to be completed in June. At the top are party leader Martin Schirdewan and refugee and climate activist Carola Rackete. They are running for the European Parliament in a team with the trade unionist Özlem Demirel and the Mainz “doctor of the poor” Gerhard Trabert. All four received large majorities on Saturday evening.
The Left is trying to regain its footing after the break with former parliamentary group leader Sahra Wagenknecht. The party recently had very weak election and survey results. Now she is threatened with new competition from the rival party planned by Wagenknecht. At the party conference, however, chairmen Schirdewan and Janine Wissler tried to create confidence for a new start. When it came to important issues, they received support from the more than 400 delegates.
New demand
The European election program was decided almost without controversy. The Left is focusing on its classic themes: more public spending and fewer requirements through European debt rules, more taxes on high incomes and corporate profits, strict climate protection, an asylum policy that is as restricted as possible, and a strengthening of the European Parliament in the EU political structure.
The program sees a need for reform in the EU and speaks of the “anger of many people”, but does not fundamentally question the community. Specifically, the Left put forward a new demand: They are now calling for a 15 euro minimum wage in Germany. Previously it was for 14 euros. The minimum wage is currently 12 euros.
20 candidates
The European Parliament election in Germany is scheduled for June 9, 2024. In 2019, the Left received 5.5 percent of the vote and five mandates. This year she wants to field 20 candidates. Schirdewan, Rackete, Demirel and Trabert were nominated by the party leadership and received broad support from the delegates. The best result with 96.8 percent was achieved by Trabert, who has been a doctor caring for the homeless and refugees for decades. Like Rackete, Trabert is not a party member.
Journalist Ines Schwerdtner was elected in fifth place late on Saturday evening, and Brandenburg leftist Martin Günther in sixth place. The remaining places will be allocated today.