While talks for the forming of a non-far right coalition have started to be headed by the conservative CDU/CSU head Frederick Merz, the potential chancellor replacing Olaf Schulz of SPD, what is not being adequately noted is the extraordinary performance of the left wing party De Linke which doubled its votes compared to its opinion poll status in 2024.And only 4.9 per cent in 2021 elections. It was an astounding achievement for the De Linke, the offshoot of the German communists of Eastern part of Germany.

The last four weeks of the campaign were held in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s direct support to the far right AFD and Trump’s acolyte Elon Musk’s slanderous campaign meant for German people against the SPD, the CDU/ÇSU leader Frederick Merz and the left wing De Linke. The immigration issue was a hot issue amongst the workers and the middle class. The economic crisis in Germany accentuated with more unemployment and inflation. AFD took full advantage of this to focus on its tirade against the immigrants on lines with the party’s, mentor Donald Trump.

The leftwing De Linke was the only party which continued to focus on the real issues effecting the German people and tried to give a proper perspective of the immigration issue. It was a tough task in the surcharged atmosphere when every small incident concerning any immigrant was publicized in the German media to needle the sentiments of the common German people. Even among the Left supporters, there was a feeling that the Left wing De Linke was failing to catch the imagination of German youth who are suffering most as a result of the government’s economic policies.

But the Sunday’s results showed that the De Linke got maximum votes - 26 per cent among the 18-24 age group followed by the AFD with 21 per cent. It was known that the AFD will be getting more support from the young voters, but De Linke got more and it was a complete surprise for the De Linke leadership also as in the earlier elections, this age group never opted for the Left in such a big way. It is a real breakthrough for the German Left and the party is now planning to take this success forward by focusing more on the urgent issues of the day that affect the youth.

Though Frederick Merz talks of a firewall against the far right AFD, the party joined with the AFD in passing in Parliament a bill against immigrants which was opposed by both the SPD and the Left. It was in this context that the prospects of socialist party Die Linke first began to take a turn for the better. This last-minute burst of “anti-fascist” energy and discontent among the broad left was surely decisive in giving Die Linke the boost it needed not only to stay in parliament, but to achieve a solid 8.8 percent of the vote.

This was the party’s third-best-ever result — made all the more remarkable because last time around in 2021, De Linke had fallen short of the 5 percent threshold but managed to get MP’s elected due to another law concerning representation from provinces. This time with its nearly in 64 seats in the Bundestag of 630 members, De Linke will be able to act as the formidable opposition continuing its fight against both far right as also the continuing neo liberal policies of the new coalition. If there is a coalition of CSUÇDU, SPD and Greens, De Linke will be the only non-Right opposition party in Bundestag which can take advantage. of the failures of the coalition government also apart far right AFD.

The upsurge among the German youth, especially the first timers should be of encouragement to the other left parties in Europe, especially in France, Spain, Portugal and Greece where the communist parties have already established strong youth organization. France may go for national elections after July this year since the present government is functioning from issue to issue depending on the support of the far right Le Pen’s party National Rally (NR). Both the French Communist Party and the Socialists are part of the New Popular Front (NFP) led by the new Left leader Melenchon. The German youth’s political decision should boost the morale of the Leftwing French youth organisers in the campaign before coming elections.

In a way, the Left is emerging as a viable force to oppose the far Right in a number of European countries. In the new geo politics when Trump led USA has distanced from Europe and European nations are seeking for a continental identity, it is possible that will breed European nationalism which has other consequences. The Left has to be alert about that while fighting the far right inside Europe and Trump outside. It is a tough task but the positive thing is that the European youth are turning to Left and that has to be taken forward. (IPA Service)