The new members skew younger and more female, potentially giving the party a fresh boost among progressive voters. | Christian Mang/Getty Images
The Left’s boost in numbers fuels hope of clearing the 5 percent threshold to enter the Bundestag.
BERLIN — The Left party is experiencing an unexpected momentum boost less than two weeks before Germany’s national election.
Nearly 23,500 people have joined the far-left party since the start of the year, according to figures first reported by Der Spiegel, pushing its total to a record 81,200 — the highest since 2009.
The rise comes as left-wing voters mobilize against what they see as a growing rightward shift in German politics. “People want a fairer, more just policy,” said The Left co-chair Jan van Aken. “They know they can rely on us.” Party leaders say the influx reflects growing concerns over the political direction of the country as conservative forces gain ground ahead of the Feb. 23 election.
mrcity1558 on February 11st, 2025 at 20:40 UTC »
I lose trust in surveys. We shall see on election day.
madogvelkor on February 11st, 2025 at 17:50 UTC »
Surge maybe, but they're one of the smallest parties. If it's just SPD voters changing parties or new voters picking them of the SPD it's not going to shift things.
It might actually make things worse of Die Linke draws votes from SPD or the Greens. If the SPD vote drops then it might be the CDU/CSU who form a government. They could make a center right-left coalition with the SPD has they have to do in some states. Or they might make a deal with the FDP.
So ironically a shift to the far left could push the German government toward the center-right.
andreBarciella on February 11st, 2025 at 17:46 UTC »
"far left", i bet they call afd a reasonable right.....