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Left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht
Photo: IMAGO/Christian Spicker
After several hours of deliberation, the left-wing faction made a clear decision against the member of the Bundestag Sahra Wagenknecht.
For the members of the parliamentary group, the party program and the decisions of the party conferences formed the basis, it says.
»In the case of speeches held for the parliamentary group, the parliamentary group board shall ensure in a suitable and appropriate manner in accordance with the rules of procedure that the speaker basically presents the majority opinion of the parliamentary group.«
It also says that the task of the parliamentary group is to criticize the “wrong and anti-social policy of the federal government”.
The background to the decision is a tough argument in the left over a speech by Wagenknecht.
During an appearance in the Bundestag, the former parliamentary group leader Wagenknecht accused the federal government of “starting an unprecedented economic war against our most important energy supplier” with regard to Russia.
She called for economic sanctions to be lifted.
From the point of view of their critics, this has put forward an attitude that contradicts the decisions made by the left.
Fire letter from the countries
As a result, Left Party chairmen Martin Schirdewan and Janine Wissler distanced themselves, and Wagenknecht was criticized by several members of the Bundestag.
There were prominent resignations.
On Monday, several state chairmen also made their displeasure clear in a letter to the parliamentary group leadership.
It is available to SPIEGEL.
It's a pity for the party when "we offer a stage for outlandish interpretations of reality."
According to SPIEGEL information, the discussion in the parliamentary group meeting on Monday afternoon is said to have been tough, but overall factual.
Several members of parliament around ex-party leader Bernd Riexinger withdrew an even more sharply worded motion.
The new motion comes from the parliamentary group executive committee and received wide approval.
So there should have been only four dissenting votes and one abstention, the rejection came mainly from the supporters of Wagenknecht.
She herself was only connected to the session via video.
There is said to have been no demand for resignation from the leadership of the parliamentary group at the meeting, as was voiced by parts of the party.
Several MPs have expressed the wish to have more discussions with Wagenknecht.
"The ball is now with her," says the group leadership.
In the evening she appears on the ZDF television program »Markus Lanz«.
