Left leader Wissler: New Wagenknecht party is a “crazy idea”

2023-10-20 16:07:22

“This is a free country. Anyone can found a new party. I think it’s a crazy idea,” she said on Friday on the “Welt” broadcaster. Wissler repeated her appeal to Wagenknecht and possible colleagues to give up their Bundestag mandates in this context.

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“The people voted for the left and our election program and you can’t just say, I’m changing the party and now represent something completely different, but I’m taking the mandates with me. We think that’s irresponsible,” said Wissler.

Should Wagenknecht found her own party and leave the parliamentary group with her supporters, the faction status of the left-wing MPs in the German Bundestag – currently 38 – would be lost and the minimum number would no longer be reached. There are several supporters in the left-wing faction, including the previous co-party leader Amira Mohamed Ali and Wagenknecht’s close confidant Christian Leye. According to the announcement, both will be present at the presentation of plans for a new party on Monday.

Even with fewer than 37 mandates, the Left would lose its current status as a faction. MPs can then form a so-called group. However, groups have fewer rights in the Bundestag and do not receive the same financial resources as parliamentary groups, for example for employing staff and for events.