Sexual assaults on the left?
Other suspected victims are coming forward
4/17/2022, 6:13 p.m
After the allegations of sexual abuse in the Hessian Left Party, the scandal spread. The federal spokeswoman for the party’s youth organization speaks of more than 20 other suspected people from several state associations.
After allegations of sexual assaults became known among the Hessian left-wingers, numerous other suspected victims contacted the Left Youth Solid, which is affiliated with the party. Solid federal spokeswoman Sarah Dubiel spoke of more than 20 other people affected from several state associations.
The “Spiegel” had made alleged cases of sexualized violence in the Hessian Left Party public on Friday. There are various documents with references to “suspected border crossings, abuse of power and a toxic macho culture,” wrote the news magazine after talking to ten women and men.
The Hessian Left Party wants to find “neutral” shop stewards as a further step in dealing with allegations of sexual assault. The search for these should be completed after Easter. The left had previously announced that one or more persons of trust should be appointed for the next meeting of the state executive committee on April 30th. This comes too late and is only preventive, criticized Dubiel: “This will not change anything in the current cases.” She described it as a disgrace that an independent trustee has been called for for a long time, but is only now being implemented. Professionally trained and qualified contact persons are required. “The party now has to spend money, both for processing and for contact persons for potential further cases,” Dubiel demanded.
According to the executive state board, the Hessian left became aware of the allegations by the end of November 2021. Since then, the party has begun “to work through this at all levels”. Among other things, reference was made to offers of talks to those affected, an agreed code of conduct and the planned appointment of shop stewards. A party spokesman said that the current reporting has made it clear once again how necessary this work is.
The executive board of the state wants to coordinate the further procedure in the next week. The Left Federal Party had assured in a statement on Friday “that we will not tolerate cross-border behavior and will sweep it under the table”.