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On Sunday, February 23, Germany is holding snap national elections. These were called in November when Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government collapsed. On this episode of the podcast, we interview Leonie Lieb, a socialist candidate for the Revolutionary Internationalist Organization (RIO), running for a seat in the federal parliament. Lieb is a midwife who led a years-long struggle to save the delivery ward where she works, in Munich-West.

Lieb describes the right-wing shift in the current political context in Germany, including how parties like the Social Democrats (SPD), the Green Party, and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are embracing more right-wing policies. She explains why the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained so much support, becoming the second-most popular party. We also discuss the Left Party, DIE LINKE, and its focus on a failed strategy of defeating the right in elections rather than through class struggle. DIE LINKE ultimately doesn’t pose a threat to the capitalist, imperialist status quo in Germany. 

RIO, by contrast, is providing an example of an independent political alternative to the bourgeois parties. The party’s slogan is, “For a world without borders, war, and exploitation!” and they’re calling for a total stop to German arms shipments and no more money for the military. They’re also taking a strong stance on Israel’s genocide against Gaza, and calling for a right of return for all Palestinian refugees. And in a context where German politicians are calling for more austerity and companies like Volkswagen are proposing mass layoffs and factory closures, RIO is demanding expropriation, without compensation, of these corporations. 

Importantly, unlike parties like DIE LINKE, Rio is not limiting its strategy to the elections or to parliamentary victories. Rather, these socialist candidates are using their campaign to support strikes, demonstrations, blockades, and other working-class methods to advance the interests of workers and the oppressed. RIO is fighting to promote the independent self-organization of the working class. As Lieb explains, building a socialist alternative is the best way to fight the growing Far Right, whether in Germany, Europe, in the United States, or elsewhere — and it’s the only way to win victory for the working class. 

Listen to the episode on Spotify on Apple Podcasts.

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