Sahra Wagenknecht loses her civil war on the German left

Germany turned to the right in Sunday ’s election, with the Christian Democrats ( CDU ) in first place at 29 per cent and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on just over 20 per cent.

Yet, one party on the left won a surprising reprieve, the Left Party .

Its 9 per cent of support (a four -point rise over 2021 ) and its projected 64 seats in the Bundestag may not be enough to revolutionise German politics.

Has this socialist party broadened its appeal on economic grounds? Or did it just become a rallying point for progressive opinion? The Left Party's messaging on rents and jobs offered something different.

It did best among the young and in cities, but it rose across almost all age groups and regions.

The party claims to have piled on over 20,000 new members, and more may join on this wave of enthusiasm.