Surge in Membership for Left and Green Parties in Germany
Mon 3rd Feb, 2025
The Left Party in Germany has reported an influx of over 11,000 new members within a two-week span, bringing its total membership to approximately 71,277. This figure marks the highest membership level since 2010, indicating a significant and rapid growth for the party. Just two weeks prior, during a party congress held on January 18, the Left Party's membership was noted to be around 60,060. Ines Schwerdtner, the party's chair, highlighted that the revitalization of their positions and a focused agenda have energized potential members, suggesting that many individuals were awaiting a clearly defined Left Party to engage with. The party is actively campaigning for a return to the Bundestag, with recent polls showing support fluctuating between four and five percent. The Left Party faced a split between Autumn 2023 and January 2024, resulting in the formation of two factions now represented in the Bundestag: the Left Party and the Alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). Following a restructuring effort at the party's congress in October 2024, Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken were elected as new federal co-chairs. The reported membership numbers are preliminary and may be adjusted after verification with local chapters. Joining the Left Party is straightforward, requiring only personal information and a commitment to the party's principles on their official website. In parallel, the Green Party is also experiencing a notable surge in membership, having received over 5,000 applications within just five days, setting a new record for the party. Pegah Edalatian, the political managing director of the Greens, attributed this increase to public discontent regarding the collaboration between Friedrich Merz and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Edalatian remarked on the unprecedented wave of interest since November, which has intensified dramatically in the lead-up to the upcoming Bundestag elections scheduled for three weeks from now. This membership surge is seen as a significant boost for the Green Party ahead of the election. Both the Left Party and the Green Party are capitalizing on the current political climate, with their growing memberships reflecting a broader trend of political engagement among the electorate as they prepare for the critical elections ahead.
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