The leaders of Germany’s Left Party say they will not run again. – Today

Germany’s Left Party leaders Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan said in a statement posted on the party’s website on Sunday that they will not run for office again at the party’s conference in October. The move comes after a series of electoral defeats and growing criticism of the two leaders. The far-left party has been struggling since the departure of a prominent member and the subsequent loss of support. On Saturday, the party leadership said they were fighting for survival. “I am aware that parts of the party want a fresh start in terms of personnel,” Wissler said in the statement. “I think now is the best time to clarify, with two months left until the party congress so that the party has enough time to carry out a transparent procedure and to form an opinion within the party on the candidates.” Wissler and Schirdewan have co-led the Left Party since 2022.