Luigi Pantisano was elected co‑leader of Germany's The Left alongside Ines Schwerdtner at a Potsdam conference, winning just over 53% of delegates' votes despite running unopposed. Schwerdtner secured nearly 86% support. The party reports about 126,000 members and is polling between 10% and 12% after winning 8.8% in 2025. Pantisano sparked controversy by likening CDU policies to the AfD, later calling the remark "an oversimplification."
Luigi Pantisano Elected Co‑Leader Of The Left Amid Internal Tensions And Controversy
FILE PHOTO: Luigi Pantisano, member of the German Bundestag, takes part in the Bundestag session. (is associated with: «Germany's The Left party elects co-leaders Pantisano and Schwerdtner») Fabian Sommer/dpa
Germany's The Left party has elected Luigi Pantisano to serve alongside incumbent Ines Schwerdtner as co‑leader, in a result that exposed both momentum and fault lines within the party.
Election Results And Party Context
At a party conference in Potsdam, Pantisano — a 46‑year‑old member of parliament and the son of Italian immigrants — won just over 53% of the delegates' votes despite running unopposed, a performance widely read as tepid. He had hoped for more than 70% endorsement. Schwerdtner was comfortably reconfirmed with nearly 86% support.
Pantisano replaces Jan van Aken, 65, who stepped down for health reasons after helping lead the party back into the Bundestag in 2025. Van Aken had set an ambitious goal of turning The Left into a "people's party" and targeting 20% at the next general election. The party won 8.8% in 2025 and is currently polling between 10% and 12%.
Co-Chairwoman of The Left party Ines Schwerdtner speaks during the party’s national convention at the Metropolis Halle in Potsdam. (is associated with: «Germany's The Left party elects co-leaders Pantisano and Schwerdtner») Michael Bahlo/dpa
The Left says it now has about 126,000 members. Of more than 500 delegates at the conference, roughly half are new members who joined after 2023 — a sign of recent growth and changing membership dynamics.
Remarks And Response
In his inaugural remarks, Pantisano signaled a combative approach: "I am also trying to polarize — you will get that with me." He later drew wider attention after a video interview with the tabloid Bild in which he compared policies pursued by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to those of the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying in the clip: "Ultimately there is no difference right now between the CDU, which is pursuing fascist policies, the AfD, or the fascists themselves."
Following criticism, Pantisano qualified his language to news agency dpa, calling the phrasing "unfortunate" and "an oversimplification," and clarifying that his point was that some mainstream parties have adopted policies similar to the AfD's — a shift he warned risks strengthening the far right.
Outlook
The mixed vote tally for Pantisano, the strong endorsement for Schwerdtner and the influx of new members suggest The Left is growing but still negotiating its direction and tone. Party leaders will now balance internal unity, electoral ambitions, and how confrontational their public messaging should be as they prepare for upcoming political contests.
Key facts: Pantisano (46) elected with just over 53% while Schwerdtner was re‑elected with ~86%; The Left won 8.8% in 2025 and polls at 10–12%; membership is ~126,000.
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