Die LINKE’s Powerful Comeback: A Victory for Social Justice
A Victory for Social Justice Amidst the Rise of the Radical Right
Die Linke has made a remarkable return to the Bundestag as a vocal advocate for social justice, securing 8.77% of the vote and winning 64 parliamentary seats. The party clinched direct mandates in six constituencies: Berlin Lichtenberg, Berlin Treptow-Köpenick, Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin Neukölln, Leipzig, and Erfurt. This strong result exceeded even the party’s own expectations and stands as a beacon of hope against the backdrop of the radical right’s advance in Europe and beyond.
A focus on pressing social issues, combined with strategic campaigning efforts such as the heating cost calculator and rent-seeker app, contributed significantly to Die Linke’s success. The party also benefited from the credibility crisis of the SPD and the Greens due to their coalition with the Liberals, as well as CDU candidate Friedrich Merz’s controversial collaboration with the AfD on migration and border policy. Die Linke remained the only party steadfastly prioritizing social concerns over migration debates, a stance that resonated with voters.
Walter Baier, President of the Party of the European Left, emphasized the broader significance of Die Linke’s success: “This result is of great significance for all of us, given the advance of the radical right in Europe, the USA, and many other places. It is essential that progressive forces unite to counter this alarming trend. The rise of the far right highlights the need for a stronger presence of the Left and an intensified dialogue between all progressive parties to promote inclusion and social cohesion.”
A New Social Opposition
Reflecting on the election outcome, Jan van Aken, co-chairman of Die Linke, stated: “We are now the social opposition in the German Bundestag. But we have said from the outset that this is exactly what we will do. We are the social opposition both in the Bundestag and in society. The not-so-great result yesterday is that the CDU and AfD together received around half of the votes. The next few years must now be about building a new social majority in favor of a more progressive, more socially just Germany. We see this as our task—not only in parliament but also in the streets.”
Ines Schwerdtner, co-chairwoman and direct mandate winner in Berlin Lichtenberg, highlighted the importance of grassroots mobilization: “We have shown that we can consistently win these direct constituencies through social policies, by being approachable, and by holding an incredible number of door-to-door conversations. Our goal is to continue winning direct mandates and to take back the East from the AfD.”
She also pointed out Die Linke’s ability to attract AfD voters and non-voters: “We convinced people that we are on the ground, approachable, and a party that gets things done. We refused to be distracted by the migration debate that Friedrich Merz tried to dominate.”
A Stronger Left in Germany and Beyond
Die Linke’s resurgence comes at a time when the radical right is gaining momentum across Europe, making the party’s success even more significant. With its growing membership—now exceeding 95,000—the party has built a powerful grassroots movement, knocking on over 650,000 doors and leveraging social media outreach, particularly through TikTok and Instagram.
For further analysis of Die Linke’s electoral success and its implications for the broader political landscape, readers can refer to:
- Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s full analysis of the German Bundestag elections (available in German): Link to publication.
- Cornelia Hildebrandt’s in-depth report for transform! europe: Die Linke’s Comeback at a Time of the Radical Right’s Rise.
Die Linke’s strong comeback signals that a focus on social justice and inclusivity remains a powerful counterforce to the rise of the radical right. The party’s next challenge will be to consolidate this momentum and shape a more progressive and socially just Germany.
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