Party conference: The Left wants to get out of the tremor zone

Five weeks before the election date, the Left wants to gain momentum at a party conference in Berlin today for re-entry into the Bundestag. “The state of shock is currently being overcome,” said former Thuringian Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow to the German Press Agency in Erfurt. “Every day I see how the left is becoming more alive.” There is a slight upward trend in the survey values.

Ramelow admitted that the left, with the FDP and BSW, was still in the tremor zone below the five percent mark. The party is currently measured at three to four percent in nationwide surveys. The split from the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance weakened it a year ago. This was preceded by endless controversies.

“I’m not getting nervous yet”

But party leader Jan van Aken also speaks of a positive development. “Our values ​​are slowly increasing,” van Aken told “Zeit Online”. “I’m not getting nervous yet.” The Left also hopes to secure entry into parliament with three direct mandates via the so-called basic mandate clause. “I’m pretty sure we can do it,” said van Aken, who forms a top duo for the election campaign with Bundestag member Heidi Reichinnek.

Ramelow is also supposed to help as part of the “Silberlocke Mission,” which he started together with the two long-time left-wing politicians Gregor Gysi and Dietmar Bartsch. All three want to win a direct mandate. Ramelow spoke of a “kind of safety belt for the left.” The former Prime Minister is also Thuringia’s top candidate in the federal election.

Party conference should decide program

The Left wants to decide on its election program at the party conference. Ramelow said he expected the party to set its priorities differently than before. “This society is full of fear,” he said. It’s about taking this fear away, especially through more social responsibility.

The Left has chosen affordable rents and lower costs of living as the top issues for the election. The draft program includes, for example, the elimination of VAT on basic foodstuffs, buses, trains and hygiene products. Cheaper energy for average consumers is to be financed through an “energy solidarity for the rich”, i.e. a temporary surcharge on income, wage and capital gains tax. A “nationwide rent cap” is intended to limit housing costs.

Wealth tax, pension, minimum wage

The party wants both a wealth tax and a wealth levy and higher income taxes from 81,000 euros gross for singles and higher inheritance tax. The pension level should be high and the entry age should be reduced from 67 to 65. Child benefit and citizen’s benefit should be increased and the minimum wage should be increased to 15 euros. The Left wants to prevent the announced stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany.