Executive Committee Meeting, September 4 to 5, 2016
Brief Information
Together with our Land chair Heidrun Bluhm and prime candidate Helmut Holter the Party Executive Committee (PEC) on Monday assessed Land parliamentary election results in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
For us the results are bitter, a painful defeat. Nontheless, we thank all voters and campaigning comrades. In the current poisened social climate we did not succeed to get through with our social issues. On federal level there is a heated debate about domestic security, Islam, dual citizenship, burka ban and panic buying since weeks. This has only little to do with the real problems of the people living in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. At the same time those debates fuel fears instead of countering them and play into the hands of rightwing populists. The results of the AfD (rightwing populist Alternative for Germany), which feeds off of all other parties, are frightening. We experience a shift to the right in this country whose origins lie much deeper than the refugee policy of the Chancellor.
As DIE LINKE we took a clear stance for solidarity and humaness during the campaign. A DIE LINKE that in these times opposes shift to the right and de-solidarisation fulfills a vital function and has politically added value. Even and especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The PEC thanked the Land organisation, thanks Heidrun and Helmut for this engaged and unwavering campaign and the clear edge and stance they demonstrated. There is one thing the result demonstrates as well: Politics in Western-Pomerania and elsewhere need to change fundamentally for the rightwing populists losing their ground. With a continuation of the Great Coalition in MW exactly this will fail.
The results of comrade Angelika Gramkow during elections for mayor in Schwerin are a ray of hope, since she will enter the second ballot on 18th September with a reliable advance.
Coming Sunday communal elections in Lower Saxony will take place. The PEC wishes all campaigners power and success for the final sprint in the last week.
Only 13 days left. Now more than ever! Together we win in Berlin
In Berlin we want to win again together. A basis for this was created on Sunday despite the losses: Without the steadfast campaign in the Northeast of Germany for solidarity and humaness the situation in Berlin would be different. Polls see us at 15 percent and more. This would mean a clear plus compared to 2011. Who wants to struggle against the shift to the right in society, who aims for a policy change for a social Berlin, who wants to claim the city back and set a sign against racism - needs to vote for DIE LINKE on 18th September. We say: Now more than ever! For hope - against fear!
Reports of youth organisatons linksjugend ['solid] and dielinke.SDS
The youth organisation linksjugend ['solid] and the student organisation dielinke.SDS reported on current issues, events and planned activities. Furthermore, they informed about membership development of both structures and ideas up for debate on how to improve the interconnectedness with the party.
At the Germanwide demonstrations against TTIP and CETA on 17th September, DIE LINKE will be clearly visible thanks to successful mobilisation.
Rise up against racism: Past Saturday 6.000 people took to the streets in Berlin against racism and for a society in solidarity. Heartfelt thanks to all comrades that contributed to the demonstration and the visibility of DIE LINKE!
Congratulations to "Offene Heide" for the conferral of the Aachen Peace Prize
The PEC congratulates the citizens’ initiative "Offene Heide" (open heath) for the awarding of the Aachen Peace Prize on 1st September, the International Day of Peace. The citizens’ initiative "Offene Heide" campaigns for the civil use of the Colblitz-Letzlinger heath near Magdeburg since 23 years. We are happy about the awarding and will further support the initiative in its important work.
Furthermore, the PEC resolved to conduct a conference titled "Where is Cuba's way leading to?" on 27th October 2016.