The left wants to completely reorganize the party leadership at the end of June

Created: 04/24/2022, 12:26 p.m

Janine Wissler has announced a comprehensive clarification of the suspicion of sexism.

© Christophe Gateau/dpa

Before the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia, allegations of sexism shake the Left Party.

Nationwide, it oscillates around the five percent hurdle.

A new board should bring new trust.

Berlin - As a consequence of the resignation of chairwoman Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, the top of the Left Party wants to reposition itself prematurely at a party conference at the end of June.

The board of directors decided that at a meeting in Berlin, a left spokesman said.

"In view of the difficult situation of the party, we are convinced that the party executive needs a new mandate from the party congress," says the resolution, which according to the party was passed with a large majority and two dissenting votes.

Party conference at the end of June in Erfurt

The party conference from June 24th to 26th in Erfurt was originally not planned as an election but as a program convention.

Normally, the Left would not have had to elect a new leader until February 2023.

Hennig-Wellsow's co-chair Janine Wissler will continue to run the party alone until the delegates' meeting.

After the resolution, sexism is to be debated in a separate block at the party congress.

It is also proposed that the delegates initiate a reform of party structures.

This should bring clear decision-making structures and better cooperation between committees, state associations and parliamentary groups.

Also discussion about Russia

Important clarifications on the content of the socio-ecological restructuring and on foreign and peace policy in view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, are also pending at the party congress.

There should be lead motions on both topics.

Hennig-Wellsow announced her immediate resignation on Wednesday, 14 months after taking office together with Wissler.

She justified this with unfulfilled expectations in the renewal of the party, personal motives, but also with the way the left deals with sexism in its own ranks.

This revealed "blatant deficits" of the party.

It is about alleged cases of sexualized violence in the Hessian Left Party.

Wissler announces clarification

Wissler, who comes from the Hessian state association, announced before the deliberations of the 44-strong board of directors that the suspicion of sexism would be thoroughly clarified.

The cases should be processed as best as possible.

She denied allegations of a cover-up.

Wissler countered speculation about a rapid withdrawal.

She wants to lead the party through the difficult time together with the entire board and prepare for the party congress at the end of June.

In surveys nationwide around a five percent hurdle

Before the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia in May, Wissler campaigned for trust.

Nationwide, the Left is currently fluctuating around the five percent mark in polls.

Wissler emphasized that she rejects the assumption that she was aware of allegations of sexual harassment in the Hesse state association before the end of 2021.

When she found out about the allegations, she informed the state board immediately.

The office of the Federal Left informed them in mid-January and asked them to forward the process to the appropriate trust group.

She herself did not want to do this in order to avoid any suspicion that she wanted to exert any personal influence.

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Linke boss Wissler announces clarification of allegations

On behalf of the board, Wissler apologized to everyone who had had sexist experiences with the left.

She self-critically admitted that it was not enough to set up a trust group made up of members of the board in October to create a contact point for those affected.

The Executive Board is now resorting to external help in order to enable clarification independent of internal party interests.

Harsh consequences demanded for the perpetrators

The future Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus (Greens) told the newspapers of the Funke media group: "The allegations made against the left are frightening." Sexism and abuse of power occur in various parliamentary groups in the Bundestag.

Sexism is "a structural problem - and that includes political operations".

Paus called for the perpetrators to be ostracized, preventive structures and severe consequences: "Anyone who abuses power in this way and uses sexual violence is, in my opinion, not suitable for continuing to bear political responsibility." dpa