Overview
- Luigi Pantisano, speaking Friday in Berlin, rejected claims of antisemitism in Die Linke and said the party must host open debates on the Middle East.
- He affirmed Israel’s right to self‑determination and the security of Jews, while calling Hamas a terrorist group and condemning the October 7 attacks as a major war crime.
- He has registered to run for federal co‑chair after Jan van Aken stepped aside for health reasons, and Ines Schwerdtner plans to seek another term at the June congress in Potsdam.
- His bid unfolds as members clash over strategy, with figures like Katalin Gennburg warning against a centralized ‘KPÖ‑style’ model and urging stronger internal democracy.
- The contest follows the party’s 2025 rebound to 8.8 percent and growth to more than 120,000 members, as Pantisano pushes a worker‑focused ‘class party’ and a membership goal near 200,000.