Bremen’s Left Party convened a special congress on Thursday, February 21, 2026, to address the fallout from a scandal involving alleged infiltration of leftist groups by a state informant, and to counter what members described as a “smear campaign” by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The congress saw party members sharply criticize the CDU’s response to the case, accusing them of attempting to broaden the scope of acceptable political discourse to the far right. The CDU has called for a vote of no confidence in Left Party senators, alleging connections to extremism.
“The CDU is trying to shift the boundaries of what is thinkable and sayable further to the right,” said Felix Pithan, the proposer of a motion passed by the congress, which affirmed the party’s commitment to defending independent courts and the rule of law. “We will resist and resolutely defend the foundations of democracy and the rule of law.”
The controversy centers on Dîlan S., a man allegedly recruited by Bremen’s Verfassungsschutz (Office for the Protection of the Constitution) in 2017, who infiltrated the “Interventionistische Linke” (Interventionist Left) group. The group was reportedly targeted due to its verbal radicalization, though authorities have stated this did not translate into violent actions, according to reporting by taz.
The scandal deepened with the resignation of Anatol Anuschewski, a deputy judge at the Bremen State Court, after it was revealed he was present during a confrontation where the informant’s cover was allegedly blown. Lea Voigt, another deputy judge at the court, subsequently resigned in solidarity, citing “pressure” and a climate where lawyers were being forced to justify their professional activities due to their court appointments, as reported by tagesschau.de.
Bremen’s Economics Senator Kristina Vogt, speaking at the Left Party congress, described the CDU’s actions as “unbearable,” suggesting the party was attempting to undermine the democratic foundations of the state. “It feels as if the Bremen CDU currently wants to overcome the state in its democratic form,” she said.
Sofia Leonidakis, leader of the Left Party parliamentary group, stated the party would not allow the CDU to “demonize” them, accusing the opposition of using the scandal as a distraction. Nelson Janßen, the group’s co-leader, called for a full investigation into the case of the alleged informant, stating, “I always think the use of informants is wrong.”
The case has prompted debate within the Left Party itself, with members discussing the implications of the scandal at the congress, as reported by butenunbinnen. The CDU has yet to respond to the Left Party’s criticisms, and has maintained its intention to pursue votes of no confidence against Left Party senators.
