Die Linke Party Wins German Votes by Standing Out from the Crowd

[Lydia Leftcoast]

...(Spieth's) anti-capitalist, pro-social justice Die Linke is striking a chord with an increasingly disenfranchised electorate, espousing causes – such as inequality, reunification issues and, crucially, the war in Afghanistan – that are finding a receptive audience in both east and west.

"Our voters are representative of millions of Germans who feel cut off from the political process and they could have a significant impact on Germany's political landscape," said 62-year-old Spieth, who left the Social Democratic party (SPD) in 2003 after 37 years in protest at its restructuring of the social welfare state.

While Die Linke's rivals have mercilessly attacked it for its radical wealth redistribution plans and its links to the defunct communist regime, its message is clearly getting through...
"The days when people voted for one party are over. People feel deceived by the other parties, but at least they feel Die Linke speaks their language, and this war issue is a good example of that."If there is one factor holding the party back, it is the claim that it is a home for the "loony left".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/17/german-elections-die-linke-party
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"Die Linke" means "the Left" in German, and the founder's name is pronounced "Frahnk Shpeet."

[MisterP]

1. and Rammstein made the song "Links 2-3-4" partly in their honor n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

2. sounds like they need another beerhall putsch to get rid of the dirty commies, like they did

70-80 years ago, nein?

[MisterP]

3. we even have Friekorps building up here--except this time they're against the alleged socialist

instead of at his command