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Delegates at the Left Party Congress
Photo: IMAGO/KH / IMAGO/Karina Hessland
SPIEGEL:
The left is known for its no to war and strictly refuses to supply arms to Ukraine.
In a very emotional speech at the party congress, you advocated arms deliveries to Ukraine.
What bothers you about the party?
Sofia Fellinger:
How my party is dealing with this war is a mystery to me.
If you are a little familiar with the situation there, you must realize that people have to defend themselves.
What alternatives do we offer if not weapons?
So where does peace come from when Russia is waging a war of annihilation and is torturing and murdering people?
My party talks about peace.
But that's an empty term if there's nothing behind it.
Should Ukrainians embrace Russian tanks?
When people fight for a leftist, liberated society like in Kurdistan or Rojava - of course I give them weapons!
SPIEGEL:
Not everyone in your party feels that way.
How are you going to convince them?
Fellinger:
I think many leftists are content with the fact that we've been a peace party for what feels like 2,000 years.
This principle is not shaken.
I want to bring about a change in thinking.
When a country like Russia attacks another, it's a war of aggression.
So our solidarity must apply to those who have been attacked.
That doesn't mean that we're suddenly sending guns everywhere.
In a civil war where we are only prolonging the suffering of the people, I would also say no.
SPIEGEL:
Gregor Gysi also believes that Ukraine must be able to defend itself.
But other countries should do that - and not Germany because of history.
What do you think?
Fellinger:
Gysi's position is hypocritical and stupid.
We don't want to make money off weapons we sell to war zones?
But is it okay to sell arms to third countries who then pass them on?
Then we should actually give away our weapons.
SPIEGEL:
Party leader Janine Wissler also rejected arms deliveries in her speech, but on the other hand clearly condemned the Russian attack.
Fellinger:
There has to be more.
People are in mortal danger there and we are content with empty phrases.
SPIEGEL:
In her speech, Wissler also apologized for the incidents of sexism on the left that had not been adequately dealt with.
You are also a member of Linksjugend solid. Did that convince you?
Fellinger:
That was insufficient.
Losing only three sentences about MeToo on the left in a 35-minute speech is not enough.
She's been criticized, hasn't said or worked up anything about her own role for weeks and now delivers nothing more than an empty apology.
It is clear that she has to say this shortly before the presidential election.
Words must be followed by deeds.
In her case, this means that everything should be worked through first, only then can she run for the presidency again.
Those affected do not feel better with nice words alone.
It would have been honest if she had announced her withdrawal today.
SPIEGEL:
You yourself come from Cologne, but have Ukrainian roots.
How do you experience the war?
Fellinger:
My mother comes from the Ukraine.
We still have a lot of relatives there, most of whom live in western Ukraine.
But my grandmother and my cousin live in Zaporizhia near Donetsk, and we hear everything up close over the phone.
At first my grandmother was very hesitant about what she wanted to tell us.
Now she's settled, after four months she's gotten used to the war.
It sounds bitter, but the daily air raid alarms and the shots became part of everyday life for them.
SPIEGEL:
How did the delegates react after your little angry speech?
Fellinger:
Extremely positive!
If you hear other speakers, you might think there are only bad people in our party.
But none of them dared to criticize me later.
Instead, many delegates came and thanked me for my courage.
I think the majority of the Left already shows solidarity with Ukraine.