The Left (Déi Lénk) are using the time before the next elections to reorganise, restructure internally, and reevaluate their foreign and defense policies to align with the current geopolitical climate. However, this shift is not entirely supported by all within the party.
The party is seeking a strategic shift rather than a full renewal, aiming to stop the general decline of left-wing movements in both Europe and Luxembourg, according to party co-spokesperson Gary Diderich. He stated, “The goal now is to use the years without elections to reorganise ourselves in a way that we can better engage with all those we work with politically.”
Recent European elections have shown a clear shift to the right, prompting discussions within the party on how best to counter the trend. During their Congress on Sunday, eight resolutions for national coordination were debated. Among them, an analysis of the election results from the past three elections will be completed by the end of this year. In the most recent parliamentary elections, the party suffered significant losses. Another key issue is defense policy, where the party opposes what they describe as a “senseless military buildup of €800 billion,” calling instead for a focus on de-escalation.
Three years after the invasion of Ukraine, it the first time that the party has taken an official stance on the conflict. MP David Wagner said: “Revolutionary pragmatism may seem unusual at times, but it’s far from new in our history. The Bolsheviks understood this as well. I believe I speak for all of us who share this perspective when I say that we are not motivated by a thirst for war or any hidden agenda. When Ukraine requests defensive weapons, when our comrades seek defense systems to prevent further loss of life, we won’t turn a blind eye to that need. Ultimately, while military support is important, true peace can only be achieved through negotiations, and they must happen on equal terms.”
For a long time, the party refrained from taking a clear stance on arms deliveries to war-affected countries. In fact, the internal debate was so heated that they refused to adopt an official position on the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine prior to the 2023 parliamentary elections. However, this “new” direction has not been universally welcomed within the party. Despite praise for Wagner’s speech, some fear that the public might perceive the party differently, with critics suggesting that the party risks being seen as a pro-war party.
