Gregor Gysi Supports Expulsion of Controversial Delegate Vanessa Emde

Gregor Gysi, a prominent politician from Germany's Left Party, has voiced his support for expelling controversial Berlin delegate Vanessa Emde from the party's parliamentary group. Gysi stated in a podcast that he "hopes we will exclude her," referring to Emde, who is accused of questioning Israel's right to exist. Gysi described such questioning as antisemitic and unacceptable for his party, emphasizing that Israel's right to exist represents a boundary that should not be crossed.

Emde's potential expulsion follows her participation in a rally against her party leadership's course on the sidelines of a recent Left Party congress. The parliamentary group leadership had previously declared that a working relationship with Emde was no longer possible. However, expelling her requires a two-thirds majority of Left Party delegates, and securing such a majority is uncertain.

The ongoing debate surrounding the party's stance on antisemitism has complicated coalition-building efforts in Berlin for weeks. A key element of the coalition agreement between the Left Party, Greens, and SPD is a joint declaration affirming the protection of Jewish life in Berlin, Israel's right to exist, and support for a two-state solution. Emde, however, argues that states, unlike individuals, do not possess a right to exist.