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Member of the European Parliament Schirdewan: Strengthen the profile of the left "as a modern socialist justice party".
Photo: Dwi Anoraganingrum / Future Image / IMAGO
After several disastrous election results, the left wants to get out of the crisis with a new party leadership.
In addition to the incumbent party leader Janine Wissler, who will stand again, a first male candidate has now been identified.
MEP Martin Schirdewan confirmed to the ARD capital studio that he would stand for election.
SPIEGEL had previously reported on Schirdewan's planned candidacy, but an official announcement was not expected until Wednesday.
The 46-year-old is co-chairman of the Left Party in the European Parliament.
Schirdewan was born in East Berlin, worked as a political scientist and moved into the EU Parliament for the first time in 2017 when his predecessor Fabio de Masi was elected to the Bundestag.
Schirdewan wants to “make the left recognizable as a feminist party”
In the ARD Schirdewan spoke of a "difficult phase" for the left.
"I believe that at this time I can contribute to a team that works together in a spirit of trust to lead the party out of this crisis," said Schirdewan.
It is important to strengthen the profile of the left "as a modern socialist justice party".
Referring to the sexual assault scandal that recently shook the party, Schirdewan said a "structural renewal" was needed that would "really make the Left a recognizable feminist party."
Schirdewan will probably have competition
The current party leader Janine Wissler had already announced at the weekend that she would run again for the post of chairman.
"I'm very happy to be party leader and I still have a lot planned," said Wissler.
According to reports, the Saxon member of the Bundestag Sören Pellmann is also to announce his candidacy on Tuesday.
At the end of June, the entire party leadership is to be re-elected at a federal party conference in Erfurt.
Usually on the left, the party leadership consists of two people, a woman and a man, one from the West and one from the East.
According to the current status, Hessin Janine Wissler would run for the Frauenplatz.
East Germans Schirdewan and Pellmann would run against each other in the men's square.
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