Long leaded in the polls, Die Linke appears on the way to obtaining seats at the Bundestag on Sunday. Conversely, the star of the BSW populist party, formed by ex from the formation, pale.
The German leftist party Die Linke is experiencing popularity less than a week before the German legislative elections on February 23, with voting intentions reaching 6 or 7 % in recent weeks.
A survey by the Yougov Survey Institute even places the Party at 9 % – a significant leap compared to a month ago and well above the 5 % threshold he would need to enter the Bundestag.
One of the rising stars of the party, Heidi Reichinnek, has become viral on social networks for having criticized Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), for his controversial decision to accept the support of ‘extreme right for its proposals for the hardening of immigration.
“You made yourself an accomplice and today you have changed this country for the worst”said Reichinnek in her spontaneous speech, which, according to the party, has been seen more than 30 million times. “Resist fascism in this country. To barricades”she added.
According to Maik Fielitz, of the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, the speech of Ms. Reichinnek has become viral, like the content that the alternative for Germany (AFD), far -right party, managed to promote social media for years.
“Candidates like Heidi Reichinnek act as political influencers. The objective is to make them known first by their personality and only by their political positioning”said Mr. Fielitz.
The party is aware of its recent success on social networks. Dietmar Bartsch, politician of Die Linke, told Euronews that the party was aimed at countering the flow of pro-AFD online messages with credible and well-made left content. Die Linke wants “Clarify disinformation and define our own subjects” Online, he added.
According to national media, the number of members of Die Linke has reached its highest level for 15 years, which has prompted the party to seek larger campaign places in the last two weeks. A survey carried out with under -18s also revealed that the party was leading among adolescents and young adults, with 20.84 % of the votes.
Before this last -minute revival of popularity, Die Linke was not sure to reach the threshold necessary to enter the Bundestag. The fate of the party seemed uncertain when one of its most prominent figures, Sahra Wagenknecht, separated from it to create its own party a little over a year ago.
The Gaucho-Nationalist alliance Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) obtained good results during the European elections in June and tripartite elections in September. However, the BSW national campaign did not have the same impact.
At the same time, Die Linke’s candidates doubted so much of their chances that three of its members campaigned to obtain direct mandates in order to enter Parliament. Heidi Reichinnek said the recent revival of popularity had restored confidence. “I don’t need to believe miracles, I experience it”she said to the daily Rheinische Post.
Die Linke presented two candidates for the post of Chancellor, Ms. Reichinnek and Mr. Jan Van Akken. She made the imposition of the rich and the affordable housing guarantee of the fundamental elements of her campaign.
The party focuses on “People’s daily problems”she said. “For example, the left has scheduled an abusive rent calculator and a heating cost calculator”explained Ms. Reichinnek.