The Left Party has announced a new record high in membership numbers, with 81,210 party members, according to a statement released on Tuesday. This is a significant increase from the previously reported high of 78,046 members in 2009. Since the election of the party’s leaders in 2024, 30,385 new members have joined, with more than two-thirds of these new members joining after the special party convention in January, the statement said. The average age of the new members since January is around 28 years, with a women’s quota of nearly 53 percent among the new members. The average age of the party’s overall membership is now 43 years.
The influx of new members is reported to be widespread across all federal states, with a stronger tendency in states with a relative shortage of population. This is bringing the party’s membership structure closer to the demographic average in Germany, the statement said.
Party leader Jan van Aken expressed his delight, stating, “We are stronger than ever: over 81,000 members – the most in our history – show that there is a new enthusiasm for the Left. An enthusiasm for a party that helps people concretely and clearly points out who is to blame for the ever-rising rents and prices. These are the rich and the corporations, who pay our work poorly and make larger profits with our rents.”
“Our themes are gaining traction and people are longing for a clear left-wing voice that fights for a rent cap and lower prices and stands firmly against fascists – and that’s damn good so” van Aken added.
Co-leader Ines Schwerdtner said, “It’s incredible what the clarification of our positions and a clear focus for energy sets free. Everywhere in the party, one can feel the stir of new beginnings. Frequently, more people come than can fit into the meeting rooms.”
“The need for social security is what we hear at the doors, but also at the entrances, so we will continue to focus on the themes of rents and prices in our election campaign. We have already knocked on over 400,000 doors across the country to ask people what issues concern them” the party leader said.