"There is immense anger among those who keep the place running," says the Left Party candidate.
Luigi Pantisano, a candidate for the leadership of Germany’s Left Party (*Die Linke*), has warned that many working people in the country are becoming increasingly frustrated with politics and feel ignored by mainstream parties.
Speaking to the news agency AFP ahead of the party’s congress in Potsdam, Pantisano said there is “immense anger among those who keep the country running, meaning workers.” He argued that many employees feel disrespected by political leaders and public debate.
He specifically criticized remarks attributed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (*CDU*), saying workers are being told they are faking illness, should work longer hours, and retire later. According to Pantisano, such messages deepen resentment among working people.
Pantisano warned that this growing frustration is pushing some voters away from democratic mainstream parties and toward the far-right *AfD (Alternative for Germany)*. He said many workers turn to the AfD because it appears to express their anger, even though, in his view, the party has no real plan to protect prosperity or workers’ rights.
He also accused the AfD of presenting itself as a workers’ party while pursuing policies that contradict workers’ interests, including opposition to minimum wage rules, employee co-determination, and workplace safety protections.
Looking ahead to upcoming elections in Berlin, Pantisano said a potential Left Party-led government could send a strong national signal. However, he stressed that the party’s main goal is not simply to govern, but to bring about political change.
He called for stronger engagement with workers, including direct outreach at factory gates and a hotline for employees to share concerns. Pantisano, currently deputy parliamentary leader of the Left Party, is running to succeed Jan van Aken as party co-chair, alongside Ines Schwerdtner.