Italian-German Luigi Pantisano Elected Leader of Germany's Die Linke Party

Luigi Pantisano, a 47-year-old with Italian roots, has been elected the new president of the German left-wing party, Die Linke. Pantisano, formerly the party's vice president, secured 53% of the vote at the ongoing congress in Potsdam. He will serve alongside Ines Schwerdtner, who was re-elected as co-chair with about 86% of the votes.

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I am the son of Gastarbeiter from an Italian family. My parents worked hard for our future. From them I learned to fight.

Pantisano, who described himself as the "son of Gastarbeiter from an Italian family," emphasized the lessons of hard work and struggle learned from his parents. In his acceptance speech, he sharply criticized Friedrich Merz's reform agenda, accusing him of seeking to enrich his wealthy friends while the Social Democrats "only collaborate." Pantisano highlighted the plight of hardworking individuals, citing conversations with workers in Bremerhaven who struggle to see their children due to long hours.

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He only wants to make his rich friends even richer. And the Social Democrats do nothing but collaborate.

He contrasted this with Merz's proposals for longer working hours and later retirement ages. "Let's put workers' issues at the center of our program," Pantisano urged. He also voiced alarm at the far-right AfD party's surge in polls, stating, "It is frightening that AfD is nearing 30%. But we can stop them and we will stop them."

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Let's put workers' issues at the center of our program.