Return to politics: Julia Bonk wants to become party leader of the left

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Reconciliation through »fruitful« conversations: Julia Bonk 2004 in the Saxon state parliament

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Bonss / momentphoto / IMAGO

Julia Bonk was once known as Germany's youngest MP and "sexy Saxon", then the left-wing politician retired eight years ago.

Now the social scientist, who has meanwhile graduated, is planning her return.

The 36-year-old wants to run for party chairmanship at the upcoming Left Party Congress at the end of June.

"Society needs a strong left," says Bonk.

This includes the appreciation of work and social justice as well as active climate protection.

For years, a dispute about the “correct” left-wing politics has been raging on the left.

Bonk now hopes to reconcile the divided camps through "fruitful" talks.

In order to convince the delegates at the party congress, she wanted to make herself available to the party "with her entire biography".

Bonk is now the mother of a three-year-old, has a doctorate and has written two books.

She was once the state student representative, then moved into the Saxon state parliament at the age of 18 in 2004.

At that time, their party members in Saxony were 68 years old on average.

"Live better without Nazis"

On her first day in parliament, in protest against the NPD, Bonk wore a black T-shirt with the imprint: "Living better without Nazis." The photo went around the world, and 87 newspapers showed the appearance.

The "Bild" newspaper named her "red Julia" and "sexy Saxon", but she quickly came under criticism in her party and beyond.

Among other things, she had called for the release of cannabis and heroin and sharply criticized the waving of German flags at the 2006 World Cup.

From 2012 to 2014 she sat on the party executive committee, then she surprisingly withdrew.

Today she rejects rumors about her withdrawal because of drug addiction and psychological problems as "constructed" to SPIEGEL.

She speaks of a burnout.

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