Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken have been elected as the new chairpersons of the Left Party, receiving strong support during the federal conference in Halle. Their leadership comes as the party faces challenges following internal divisions and declining popularity. Schwerdtner emphasizes hope and representation for East Germany, while van Aken advocates for addressing social inequalities. With plans to revive the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2025 Bundestag elections, they aim to unify and energize grassroots efforts.
Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken have been elected as the new co-chairs of the Left Party, receiving high approval at the federal party conference held in Halle (Saale).
The publicist, Ines Schwerdtner, and former Bundestag member, Jan van Aken, were elected with 79.8% and 88.0% of the votes, respectively. They take over leadership from Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan, who chose not to pursue re-election.
Insights from ARD Berlin on the Newly Elected Leadership
Goals: Aiming to Re-enter the Bundestag
The Left Party currently faces a significant crisis following a split led by former parliamentary group leader Sahra Wagenknecht, leaving the party weakened in East Germany, once its stronghold.
Presently, polls indicate that the Left Party is garnering about three to four percent of the national vote, with an objective to regain a seat in the Bundestag by 2025.
Interestingly, despite past electoral setbacks, the party has seen a surge in membership. What could this indicate?
Advocacy Against Wealth Inequality
In his candidacy speech, Van Aken expressed determination. After engaging with various district associations, he discovered that grassroots enthusiasm exceeds election outcomes. He described the atmosphere as filled with “energy and fire.”
His mission is to amplify the voices of the majority while addressing the concerns regarding the ultra-wealthy. “The left must reignite hope,” he emphasized, stating, “I’m tired of telling people how downtrodden they are.”
Van Aken secured 477 out of 542 valid votes, while Emanuel Schaaf, an unfamiliar opponent, received only 19 votes.
Schirdewan noted that the party struggled to leverage public discontent with the current ruling coalition.
Campaign Strategies Influenced by Greenpeace
Jan van Aken represented the Hamburg-Altona constituency in the Bundestag from 2009 to 2017, sitting on the Foreign Affairs Committee and advocating for arms control.
As a biologist, he claims to have honed his campaigning skills during his time with Greenpeace. He also served as a biological weapons inspector for the United Nations between 2004 and 2006.
Championing Diplomatic Solutions through ‘Words not Weapons’
Part of the Left Party since 2007, Van Aken held the position of deputy federal chairman for a while. Since leaving parliament, he has worked with the party-affiliated Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, including a stint in Tel Aviv.
Recently, he published a book titled ‘Words not Weapons,’ advocating for diplomatic approaches to conflicts, including the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
With the Bundestag elections approaching in a year, the Left Party is marking a pivotal moment to start anew.
Emphasizing Hope over Fear
Ines Schwerdtner, the other new co-chair, was unopposed in her bid and received 79.8% of the votes. She declared, “We represent hope, not fear,” during her candidacy speech.
She advocates for clarity, focus, and credibility and wishes to ensure the left serves as a voice for the East.
Born in Werdau, Saxony, in 1989, Schwerdtner moved to Hamburg with her family as a child in search of better prospects. “The line between East and West has influenced my life,” she notes on her website.
A Non-Traditional Path in Politics
With a background in political science and English studies, she later earned a master’s degree in political theory in Frankfurt am Main. As a journalist, she reported on the party and its internal challenges before deciding to take an active role in shaping its future rather than merely documenting its decline.
“I didn’t follow a conventional political path,” she reflected during her introduction. “I joined a socialist party because I believe in its principles.” Schwerdtner only became a member of the Left Party in the summer of 2023, shortly before being nominated as a candidate for the upcoming European elections.
While Schwerdtner’s approach is more reserved, Van Aken energized the conference with passionate remarks, proclaiming, “We’re going to rock the Republic, and next year we will return to the Bundestag with renewed vigor!”