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Left party leader Janine Wissler (in Erfurt): "I wouldn't say that I did everything right"
Photo: Martin Schutt / dpa
For the first time since the #MeToo allegations in the left became known, party leader Janine Wissler has apologized to affected women in the party.
If individuals were wronged, "then I would like to sincerely apologize," Wissler said in her speech at the opening of the Left Party Congress in Erfurt.
As a feminist party, the claim to not allow any sexism or abuse must be particularly high, and women must be better protected.
Wissler said of her own role: "I wouldn't say that I did everything right."
In April, DER SPIEGEL uncovered allegations of sexual assault at the Hessian Left Party, Wissler's homeland association.
The party leader is accused of knowing about the attacks and not having taken any action.
One of the accused is her partner at the time.
Wissler has so far rejected the allegations.
In the course of the scandal, Wissler's co-boss Susannne Hennig Wellsow resigned.
The left meets in Erfurt until Sunday, the party congress is supposed to be a new beginning.
The entire party leadership will be re-elected, and the party also wants to argue about its future course and its position in the Ukraine war.
Wissler is once again the chairwoman, and in her almost 40-minute speech she struck a tone that was combative but also reconciling the camps.
In addition to Wissler, the EU co-parliamentary group leader Martin Schirdewan, the member of the Bundestag Heidi Reichinnek and the Saxon member of the Bundestag Sören Pellmann are also applying for the chair.
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