More members, new branches, successful struggles
The fourth national conference of Socialist Organisation Solidarity (Sol) was a complete success. From 11 to 13 April, 130 members and guests from 20 locations came together. International guests participated from Austria, England, France, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
The conference was not only larger than the previous one, reflecting the growth of Sol, but three new branches were also formally recognised in Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn and Kassel. These developed from the Online branch that had been founded at the previous Sol Conference in December 2023 and brings together members who are alone or in pairs in their local areas. For many participants, this was their first conference and therefore sometimes their first opportunity to talk to members from other locations.
Three resolutions were passed: on the political situation in the world and in Germany, on the development of Sol, and on the recruitment and promotion of female comrades. In addition, a new national committee, a control commission and auditors were elected.
The world in a new period
The national conference took place against the backdrop of an increasingly crisis-ridden world situation. This was also the first topic for the conference plenary. Sean Figg from the International Secretariat of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) opened the debate, which, due to time constraints, could only highlight the crises and catastrophes of global capitalism.
In the United States, Donald Trump is president for the second time and is pursuing a much tougher course than during his first term. This is true domestically, for example with a much more aggressive policy towards migrants, mass layoffs in the public sector and restrictions on freedom of expression. In foreign policy, the US government is pursuing a much more aggressive and protectionist course with the introduction of massive tariffs and territorial claims in countries that are supposed to be allies. This does not automatically render these alliances null and void, but it confirms our analysis of a multipolar world order in which two superpowers – the US and China – are fighting for supremacy and many smaller powers are forced to reorient themselves and form different and changing alliances.
We are facing a completely new world situation in which wars, military conflicts and armament are on the rise and the danger of a new global economic crisis has increased massively. But we are also seeing mass protests around the world. In the United States, millions are taking to the streets against the Trump administration. In Turkey, the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor İmamoğlu triggered protests against Erdoğan’s government. This was reported by a comrade from Berlin who took part in the demonstration of over a million people in Istanbul at the beginning of April. General strikes have recently taken place in Greece and Belgium. In Israel, thousands are protesting for the release of hostages and an end to the war. Class polarisation is intensifying internationally and the working class is repeatedly trying to take the path of struggle.
German perspectives
The debate on the situation in Germany was introduced by Tom Hoffmann from the Sol Executive Committee. Germany is facing its third year of recession. Against this backdrop, massive attacks on the working class are to be expected. Even more than previous governments, a government led by conservative Friedrich Merz as chancellor will wage a class war from above to secure the profits of the banks and corporations. The ‘debt brake’ on military spending has already been abolished. The working class will pay the price.
Meanwhile, bourgeois forces are trying to divide the working class along lines of origin and religion. This is reflected not least in the ongoing attacks on the already hollowed-out right to asylum and the so-called ‘migration debate’, which serves to distract from the real social ills and their actual causes. The right-wing populist AfD (Alternative for Germany) is exploiting the established parties’ increasing adoption of anti-immigration positions, as well as justified dissatisfaction with them. This has made it the second strongest force in the federal elections.
At the local level, we are seeing massive cuts in areas such as social services, health and culture in many places. At the same time, we are seeing large protests. We have seen mobilisations against racism, the AfD and incoming Chancellor Merz’s CDU on a scale not seen in a long time. There are impressive and, in some cases, successful struggles against local government cuts in various cities. And last but not least, the surprisingly high result of the Left Party in February’s national elections shows that many people long for social improvement and are open to a left-wing alternative if they feel that it addresses their everyday concerns.
The debate was strongly influenced by Sol members active in workplaces and trade unions, who reported on their struggles and the debates in the trade unions. Angelika Teweleit from the Sol executive summarised the debate in a closing statement and emphasised the opportunities for building a socialist force that arise from the developments discussed.
The Left Party
Sascha Staničić then led off on the debate on the situation of the Left Party and the involvement of Sol members in the party. There was agreement that the success in the general elections, but above all the large influx of new members pushing its membership this year from 60,000 to over 110,000, had created a new situation that required socialists to become more involved in the party again in order to help ensure that it did not repeat the mistakes of the past and develops in a militant and socialist orientation that can play a role in creating a mass working class socialist party.
Sol had never completely written off Die Linke (Left Party) in recent years and had maintained a stance of critical support and cooperation, but had greatly reduced its practical involvement in most places. Now there was agreement to become more involved in the party again.
In doing so, we will continue to be critical of the leadership of the Left Party, oppose a focus on parliamentarism and, above all, oppose participation in governments with pro-capitalist parties. It is important to engage in dialogue with the many new members about what a socialist alternative could look like.
During the discussion, many members reported on their experiences in the election campaign and at party meetings, events and actions.
Building the forces of Marxism
In a discussion about building Sol, we discussed what lessons we can learn from our work so far and what areas of work are most important in the coming period.
The conference participants agreed: the balance sheet for Sol’s development since the last conference just under a year and a half ago is positive! In addition to growth in existing branches, growth had laid the basis for the recognition at the weekend meeting of the new branches in Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn and Kassel. Not only the founding of branches in these cities, but also the ability and determination of the other comrades to continue the Online branch led to optimism that further local branches could soon emerge from the Online branch, for example in Nuremberg, Karlsruhe or Leipzig.
Sol members are also active in trade unions and social movements. Particular mention was made of the successes of the branch in Dresden, which, together with other activists, managed to launch a movement against municipal cuts and ward off most of the cuts originally planned by the local mayor. The lesson to be learned from this is that even a small number of Marxists in the right place at the right time with the right programme can make a decisive difference to class struggles and protest movements.
In the turbulent times we find ourselves in, it is not easy to set clear priorities. We will continue to be involved in movements against cuts, racism, in the tenants’ movement and protests against rearmament and militarism while arguing for a socialist policies. The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s trade union conference is coming up at the beginning of May where we will present our ideas for a militant trade union policy and the need for oppositional networking. Within the public sector and services trade union ver.di, we are currently calling for a ‘no’ vote in the membership ballot on the collective agreement for the federal and municipal sectors and are preparing for the next collective bargaining round in the federal states.
We will continue to build the “Network for a militant and democratic ver.di” with other activists and support the “Network for Fighting Trade Unions (VKG)” and other networking initiatives at Deutsche Bahn (railways), Deutsche Post (postal service) and in other sectors. With the call ‘We are sounding the alarm!’, which is also mobilising people beyond the existing left-wing trade union oppositions, we have already been able to organise initial protests in Berlin and Dresden and want to bring together activists so that we can initiate protests against cuts in the future.
The political education of our members will be an ongoing and growing task, given the large number of new comrades. At the conference, special attention was paid to recruiting and promoting women, after we realised that the gender ratio within Sol left much to be desired. Sol therefore held a women’s seminar last year. Since then the discussion that has been going on for months already had a positive effect, with Sol Berlin gaining ten new female members in recent weeks. Another seminar is planned for this year, which will contribute to the development of a new programme against sexism and discrimination. The number of non-binary members has also increased significantly since the last national conference. However this was not the only reason why the conference decided to hold a discussion within the organisation on a programme against discrimination against LGBTQI+ people.
In addition, several new publications were on display. These included a pamphlet on Eastern Germany, which was already published for the conference. A collection of texts by our late English comrade Lynn Walsh will be published shortly, as well as a pamphlet on our programme in the fight against the right wing. The Sol-run Manifest-Verlag publishing house continues to be an important pillar in the education of our members and is enjoying growing popularity among the broader left. The publishing house is planning a series of books on various topics, including a biography of Walter Rodney, a book by Peter Taaffe on the Vietnam War, and a Marxist text by Pete Dickenson on the fight against climate change. Despite growing sales, however, the publishing house faces financial challenges, which is why a campaign has been launched to win supporters for regular financial support.
After discussing over a hundred amendments to the resolutions, they were adopted by overwhelming majorities or unanimously, and a new national committee, a control commission and auditors were elected. In conclusion, Robert Bechert gave a report on the development of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI), pointing out, among other things, that the CWI is currently in discussions with socialist organisations and groups in Israel/Palestine, Kazakhstan, Romania and Sweden.
Anne Pötzsch, a leading activist in the protests against municipal cuts in Dresden, bid farewell to the participants with a short but rousing speech. The trained nurse and aspiring doctor said that she would not stand by capitalism on its deathbed, but would instead hasten its demise through class struggle. “Let us together be the midwives of a new system. A system in which people and nature matter, not profit. A system free from oppression and exploitation.”