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Left Chairwoman Janine Wissler
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
At the crisis meeting of the Left party executive late Wednesday evening, the decision was made to have the allegations of sexual assault in the party investigated by external experts.
Likewise, the left of the party leader Janine Wissler has expressed confidence for the time being to lead the party until the next election party conference.
The chairman had recently come under pressure.
The background was the events in their home state association Hessen.
»A supporter pool is being set up at the federal level, with comrades and, if necessary, external people who can help professionally and qualified.
The trust groups or persons can thus immediately refer to the right place after a conversation with those affected, if desired," says the decision.
In addition, an "independent advisory structure" should be set up, "consisting of experienced women from feminist anti-violence work and support for those affected, as well as experienced lawyers.
She should help to clarify the cases that have come to light, act as a contact point for future victims and develop suggestions for how to deal with them."
Originally, far-reaching decisions were only planned for the weekend by the left leadership, but were brought forward due to current developments.
In the afternoon, Susanne Hennig-Wellsow announced her resignation, citing, among other things, her own party's handling of allegations of sexual assault.
According to the SPIEGEL publication last Friday, more than 30 other people are said to have contacted Left Youth 'solid' and told them about sexual assaults in the party.
In the meantime, there should be a total of around 60 suspected victims.
According to Sarah Dubiel, the federal spokeswoman for the young left, federal politicians are among those accused.
According to those present, party leader Wissler made a brief statement at the beginning of the meeting and said that she would take the allegations seriously.
Regarding her own role, she referred to her older statement, in which she rejected allegations that she had not acted in Hesse early on.
Possible primary choice at Linke in conversation
A large part of the federal executive board is said to have backed Wissler and expressed solidarity.
However, there were also several critical questions, for example from the Saxon state chairman Stefan Hartmann.
This is said to have described Wissler's previous statement as insufficient, as reported to SPIEGEL.
There was also considerable criticism of the communication in dealing with the emergence of the scandal.
Some board members pointed out that the internal vote of confidence in Wissler explicitly provides for confidence in her only until the upcoming election party conference.
The left is still discussing whether the party leadership should be re-elected at the upcoming party conference in June or only in November, as originally planned.
Then Wissler would have the opportunity to apply for the post again.
Also up for debate is a vote by all members on the new party leadership in order to pacify the left after years of internal strife.
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