The Left party (Die Linke) has announced a significant surge in membership, reaching a new record of approximately 120,000 individuals. This marks a substantial increase from the roughly 60,000 members recorded last year, according to a party spokesperson. The current membership level mirrors a peak previously achieved by the predecessor party, PDS, in 1994.
The party experienced a period of decline in late 2023 following the departure of Sahra Wagenknecht and a contingent of her supporters, which resulted in the loss of parliamentary group status within the Bundestag. At that time, membership stood at around 50,800.
Throughout this year, the Left party has welcomed nearly 64,000 new members, with 26,000 joining since the last federal election. The party is currently welcoming an average of 70 new members daily. Ines Schwerdtner, the party’s co-chair, attributed this growth to the party’s political approach and its communication with the public. She stated that the party is seen as a clear alternative to burgeoning right-wing trends and represents a hopeful prospect for systemic change addressing perceived inequalities. The rising membership numbers are expected to bolster the party’s efforts in upcoming electoral campaigns, with the state election in Saxony-Anhalt being a primary focus.
Geographically, North Rhine-Westphalia has the most members, with 22,315. This is followed by Berlin and Saxony, boasting approximately 16,500 and 11,000 members respectively. Membership in Saxony-Anhalt currently stands at around 4,000.
The membership demographic is comprised of approximately 53,000 women, 61,000 men and roughly 5,400 individuals who identify as diverse or have not specified their gender. The average age of members is 38.62 years, based on data collected on membership application forms. The Left party is currently conducting a comprehensive survey of its members, including inquiries into their social backgrounds.
For comparison, the Green party currently has approximately 170,000 members, while the BSW (Basis Social Movement) has around 4,500.
