Who will lead the left out of the mess? Chairwoman Janine Wissler wants to be re-elected. But one topic of the past few weeks still reverberates.
The left is electing a new leadership this Saturday in order to get back on its feet after election defeats, arguments and allegations of sexism.
On the second day of the federal party conference in Erfurt, not only the dual leadership, but the entire executive board is to be reassigned. This will probably also be reduced. There are ten applicants for the top duo alone. Before the election, the line of the left on Russia and the Ukraine war is to be staked out – a very controversial topic internally.
allegations of sexual assault
On Friday evening, the youth association Solid described cases of sexism and sexualized assaults in the party in an open debate and called for countermeasures. Many delegates were shocked by the accounts given by the young people instead of those affected.
For example, the employee of a member of the Bundestag, who was riding in the elevator with her boss, had to listen to the comment of another comrade: “She’s pretty, maybe a little big, but it doesn’t matter when she’s lying down.” A woman was greeted with the words: “Well, you awesome piece, you look really chic again.” A woman reported how a party member “(wanted) aggressive sex that she had not agreed to”. The young people also reported a rape without naming names.
They demanded on a banner: “Stop this criminal protection”. In the past few months, countless people with experiences of sexism have reported, said Jan Schiffer from the party youth. However, party representatives did not react adequately, but sometimes suspected conspiracy theories behind the MeToo debate on the left.
Wissler apologizes
The debate began weeks ago with an article in “Spiegel” about allegations of sexism in the Hesse state association, from which the federal chairwoman Janine Wissler also comes. Wissler said in her speech at the start of the party conference: “I would like to sincerely apologize to all the women to whom we have not been able to offer anything or little if they have been wronged.” On the fringes of the party congress, she announced new sanctions against members of the party who are guilty of assaults.
The federal spokeswoman for left-wing youth Sarah Dubiel criticized Wissler’s statements on the Phoenix broadcaster as “too little and that’s too late” and suggested that she not run for the presidency again.
Nevertheless, Wissler is applying again for a position in the dual leadership. Other promising candidates are the European politician Martin Schirdewan and the members of the Bundestag Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann. Wissler said she saw no sign of disagreement in the unusually large number of applications. Re-election of the management team is necessary because Wissler’s co-chair Susanne Hennig-Wellsow resigned a few weeks ago.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
