Oskar Lafontaine

Following a dispute over the selection of the lead candidate in Saarland, Lafontaine called on voters not to vote for Die Linke in the state. Expulsion proceedings were initiated amid an intense internal conflict.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A few weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lafontaine left Die Linke, accusing party leaders of accepting increased military expenditure and arms deliveries. He subsequently framed the conflict as a confrontation between NATO and Russia.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Lafontaine called for an end to wind power expansion in Saarland and described the transformation of the landscape as 'cultural barbarism', also citing costs and climate effectiveness.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following criticism of Israeli military policy and a position calling for balanced disarmament of Israel and Hezbollah, Lafontaine was accused by officials of the Central Council of Jews of fuelling an antisemitic atmosphere.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Lafontaine broke with the SPD after decades of membership, denouncing Agenda 2010 and Schröder's social reforms. He joined the WASG/PDS project that would lead to Die Linke.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the new left-wing bloc's campaign, Lafontaine warned that German workers should not lose their jobs to lower-paid 'Fremdarbeiter'. The term, historically charged by its use under Nazism, triggered strong accusations of xenophobia.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Lafontaine's home in Saarland was ironically nicknamed the 'Palace of Social Justice', fuelling criticism of the contrast between his lifestyle and rhetoric. In 2005, an administrative court confirmed an authorisation problem concerning his property's fence, and an administrative fine of 1 000 euros was reported.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

After only a few months of the red–green government, Lafontaine clashed with Gerhard Schröder over economic policy, taxation and relations with business. On 11 March 1999, he abruptly resigned as Finance Minister, SPD chairman and MP.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility