German Minister-President Calls for Left Party Co-Leader's Resignation Over 'Fascist Politics' Remark

Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President Daniel Günther has demanded the resignation of Luigi Pantisano, the newly elected co-leader of Germany's Left Party. Günther stated that anyone equating the CDU with fascists and the AfD has disqualified themselves from serious democratic exchange and is "history-blind."

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Anyone equating the CDU with fascists and the AfD has disqualified themselves from serious democratic exchange. That is history-blind.

Günther told the Bild newspaper that Pantisano cannot be a partner for democrats and should leave politics as soon as possible. Pantisano had stated in an interview that there was "hardly any difference" between the CDU's "fascist politics" and fascists themselves. He had previously suggested potential alliances with the CDU at the state level to prevent an AfD government, but later walked back the specific phrasing as "unfortunate" and "truncated," while still criticizing the CDU's "inhumane policies."

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Someone like Pantisano cannot be a partner for democrats and should leave politics as soon as possible.

Politicians from the CDU criticized Pantisano's remarks as "utter audacity" and an "outburst." The statement also caused consternation within the Left Party itself. Pantisano was elected co-leader of the Left Party at its recent congress in Potsdam, securing just over 53 percent of the vote. His co-leader, Ines Schwerdtner, was confirmed in her position with nearly 86 percent of the delegates' votes.

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hardly any difference