Gysi: "We [Die Linke] are not a communist party and we will not be one."

[Widerstand]

As said in the aftermath of Gesine Lötzsch speaking favorably of communism, which caused the SPD (social democrats) to heavily criticize them and rule out a possible coalition, as did Die Grünen (green party). The CSU (conservatives) also repeated their call for intelligence observation of Die Linke.

Klaus Ernst of Die Linke called this attitude expressed by SPD and Grünen "unpolitical" and stressed the need for a governmental change.

Anyone want to defend them anymore?

[Savage]

Is the German Greens party very conservative like the Australian Greens party?

[Widerstand]

They were part of government during the first German attack-war after WW2, and they were part of the government during some of the worst neoliberal reforms in Germany (including massive social cuts and labor right cuts), but historically, no, they very much are not conservative. They were born out of various, often militant, environmental groups, and to a lesser extent other social groups such as gay rights groups, anti-racist groups, squatters, etc. Their origins mostly lie in the 70s/80s Anti-AKW (anti-nuclear power) movement, but also 60s/70s student uprisings and the APO (extra parliamentary opposition) - though the ideological basis and political tactics of especially the latter were bound to lead to capitalist co-option and bureaucratic integration.

[Die Neue Zeit]

There's already a thread on this:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/gysi-die-linke-t147798/index.html