Leftists want to clarify social DNA in election manifesto

The Saxon Left Party wants to recommend itself as a representative of workers' interests in the state elections on September 1. The election manifesto is characterized by the social DNA of the Left, said party leader Stefan Hartmann on Tuesday at the presentation of the draft manifesto. The social brand essence is emphasized in every single chapter. The party wants to represent the interests of working people in Saxony and eastern Germany and focus on four areas. In addition to the topics of the world of work, the economy and climate, the focus is on social services of general interest, the economy, democracy and social cohesion.

Co-Chair Susanne Schaper accused the state of increasingly withdrawing from services of general interest and referred to hospitals, among other things. In the municipalities, schools and social spending are constantly increasing. The Left Party would focus on people's main expenses: Food, housing, electricity. What is needed is redistribution. "Shareholders are cutting profits while citizens continue to pay without feeling that anything is being done for them." The Left Party is proposing an offensive for local public transport. The frequency of public transport services should depend on the size of the municipalities.

In one section of the draft program, the Left Party specifically addresses the "Spotlight: East". Under this heading, it says: "Despite all the celebrations and Sunday speeches, it cannot be overlooked: Many people in East Germany, especially in Saxony, are disappointed, dissatisfied or even angry 34 years after reunification. More than half of the people in Saxony still feel that East Germans are second-class citizens. Not even a third think that the achievements of East Germans are adequately recognized." Right-wing demagogues are using this frustration and directing it towards scapegoats in order to gain political power for themselves.

"We are not satisfied with the state of democracy in Saxony," said Schaper. For 30 years, the CDU had governed the Free State in a "landlord manner" and prepared the ground for the AfD. Anyone trying to overtake the AfD in populism would only further divide society. In their election manifesto, for example, the Left Party advocates lower quorums for popular legislation. They do not want to be afraid of the people, but want them to participate, they said. Hartmann admitted that the past two years had been extremely difficult for the Left Party. He assessed the current situation as being contentious, but not divided.

The election manifesto is now to be discussed by the party base. On 13 April, a state party conference in Bautzen will decide on the program. The Left Party in Saxony received 10.4 percent of the second votes in the last state election in 2019. According to the latest polls, the party is in danger of being re-elected to parliament. However, it has also seen a positive trend in membership. According to Hartmann, the party has registered an increase in membership for three months in a row. This has not happened since 1989. According to the party, it currently has 6,176 members.