https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_(Germany)
Though mainstream media refer to them as 'far left', IMO Die Linke are essentially a left social democrat to populist left party (which I like), though they allow real far leftists to join (who seem strongest in the West, esp NRW-quite an achievement maintaining such a coalition). Reading the history of the PDS makes this clear when Stalnism was clearly denounced "We break irrevocably with Stalinism as a system!" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_...lism_(Germany)
Linke now are in open debate over migration policy (on the associated 'New Germany' Berlin newspaper site). Chancellor candidate Wagenknecht (not long ago seen as from a hard left faction) was denounced as a racist by a seeming politically correct element for some outspoken comments (she called for the deportation of sex offender refugees among other stuff). She is fully supported by her partner Lafontaine (ex SPD Finance minister) who was reported for some time as questioning the refugee policy among other things . 3000 members have signed a petition supporting her https://www.neues-deutschland.de/art...d-bartsch.html
The debate has little to do with East or West as some Eastern Linke politicans have criticised the pair https://www.neues-deutschland.de/art...en-falsch.html
Google translate gives a rough idea of what's going on, but not perfect of course
Lafontaine himself has written an article worrying about the lack of support amongst the unemployed https://www.neues-deutschland.de/art...aft-setzt.html
The argument might be seen as one of pragmatic populism v unyielding principle but as Lafontaine points out only the luckiest (and in some cases wealthiest?) refugees made it, so this is as much about making noise to re-assure the old voter base that they are not forgotten ? But I really cant be sure given my very poor German
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