Ines Schwerdtner, the national chairwoman of Die Linke, has rejected the criticism directed at the talks in Berlin by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU. Speaking on Monday during the ntv program “Pinar Atalay,” Schwerdtner asserted that she wished Merz were more agitated about the struggles facing people in the country.
The Die Linke politician views Merz’s remarks as a diversionary tactic. She labeled it “complete madness” that the Chancellor should take such a stand while CDU representatives are allegedly involved in co-electing an AfD state parliament president in Saxony-Anhalt. Schwerdtner claimed that this is what Merz aims to distract from: the social cuts he is implementing in his own government and his perceived inability to manage his own political operations.
Merz had previously stated at a Young Union event on Saturday that a red-red-green coalition was “not permissible in the protection of our democracy” and that such attempts must cease.
Regarding Vanessa Emde, the Berlin representative, Schwerdtner also defended her statements. Addressing the matter, Schwerdtner stated that Emde’s viewpoint is “absolutely legitimate,” adding that it is true under international law that states do not possess an existential right, only a right to self-determination and self-defense. However, she noted that Germany has historically chosen to support a secure Israel.
When discussing Emde’s comments, Schwerdtner clarified that while she did not personally agree with them, she acknowledged Emde’s correctness from a strictly international law perspective. Furthermore, Schwerdtner outlined the party’s official stance, emphasizing that Die Linke stands for an existential right for Israel in the same way it stands for Palestine, because this is the only way security can be achieved in the Middle East.
The Neukölln Die Linke representative, Vanessa Emde, had stated in an Instagram video that an existence right applies only to people, not to states. The Die Linke party plans to hold a debate on Tuesday regarding how to address Emde’s comments.
