Carola Rackete is to become the top candidate of the left in the European elections

According to a report, climate and refugee activist Carola Rackete is set to stand as the left’s top candidate in the European elections next year. This was reported by Zeit Online on Monday, citing party circles. With Rackete’s candidacy, the party leadership of the left is forcing its course of distancing itself from left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht, who has announced the founding of her own party and has repeatedly struck a tone critical of migration.

Rackete became known when she was the captain of the sea rescue ship in June 2019 “Sea Watch” 53 people off the coast of Libya from the Mediterranean Sea and, after weeks of waiting, despite a ban by Italian authorities, called at the port of Lampedusa. While her actions met with sympathy on the left, Wagenknecht often criticized her party for allegedly following a course of “open borders for all” follow.

Rackete should run together with Martin Schirdewan

According to the report, Rackete is to be presented as the top candidate in a joint press conference with the party leaders on Monday. A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the party headquarters in Berlin.

Before Rackete can compete in the European elections, however, a party conference must nominate her as a candidate. The question of whether there will be counter-candidates is currently open, party circles said to Zeit Online. In the East German state associations in particular, there is said to be skepticism about Rackete’s nomination.

Rackete is to run alongside Martin Schirdewan, who is currently leader of the Left Party in the European Parliament. The left chairmen Janine Wissler and Schirdewan are under pressure because of the poor election results and poll numbers of the left and because of the ongoing dispute with the former parliamentary group leader Sahra Wagenknecht.