Germany’s Left Party faces a significant challenge as it struggles to meet the 5% threshold required for representation in parliament. Three senior politicians from the party, Bodo Ramelow, Gregor Gysi, and Dietmar Bartsch, are hoping to capitalize on an exception in German electoral law that allows parties with three candidates winning in their constituencies to bypass the threshold and secure representation in the Bundestag.
Germany’s Left Party Struggles for Survival
Germany’s Left Party is facing a significant challenge as it struggles to meet the 5% threshold required for representation in parliament.
The Quirk in German Electoral Law
A unique aspect of German electoral law allows parties that have three candidates win in their respective constituencies to bypass the 5% threshold and secure representation in the Bundestag.
The Trio of Seniors
Three senior politicians from the Left Party, Bodo Ramelow, Gregor Gysi, and Dietmar Bartsch, are hoping to capitalize on this exception and save their party from certain exclusion from parliament.
Gregor Gysi: A Prominent Figure
Gregor Gysi, a former lawyer and eloquent orator, has been a member of the German Bundestag almost continuously since 1990. He believes that the Left Party continues to be a much-needed voice in reunified Germany and is still the voice of eastern German voters.
Bodo Ramelow: A Popular Figure
Bodo Ramelow, the head of government in the eastern state of Thuringia, remains very popular despite recently losing his state’s election. His victory in his constituency would come as no surprise.
The Exceptional Rule
This exception was previously used by the Left Party in the 2021 federal election when it garnered only 4.9% of the vote. Despite this, the party was able to fill 4.9% of the seats in parliament and send a total of 39 MPs due to three Left Party candidates winning their constituencies.
The Challenge Ahead
While this strategy may have worked in the past, it is likely to be even more difficult for the Left Party to achieve this feat in 2025. The party will face significant competition from the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which split off from the Left Party in early 2024 and has since performed better in regional elections and opinion polls.
A Trio of Experienced Politicians
The three senior politicians running for the Left Party are well-experienced in politics: Bodo Ramelow is the head of government in the eastern state of Thuringia; Gregor Gysi has been a member of the Bundestag since 1998 with only a brief interruption; and Dietmar Bartsch has served as the parliamentary group leader and managing director of the Left Party.
Criticism and Controversy
Critics have suggested that rather than relying on elderly candidates to lead the party into the future, it should focus on embracing diversity and targeting the younger generation in big cities.
