The left stands up: New candidates fight for social justice!

The left stands up: New candidates fight for social justice!

Last Saturday, the district association Die Linke Pforzheim/Enzkreis in Niefern-Öschelbronn nominated its candidates for the upcoming state elections in 2026. Marvin Weiß, the city councilor in Pforzheim, was nominated as a direct candidate for constituency 42 and sees it as his task to fight against social coldness and right-wing agitation. His replacement candidate is Peter Pfeiffelmann, who points out the need for social justice. Maria-Elisa Li Vigni is running for constituency 44 (Enz), while Cedric Strauß is her replacement candidate. Li Vigni calls for a life of dignity and equal opportunities for all, while Strauß calls for real change in ecological, social and democratic issues. The Left positions itself as a strong voice of the social movement and is pushing for a change of course in state politics.

These candidacies come in a context that shows worrying signs. It was only recently announced that voter turnout for the re-election of Mayor Peter Boch in Pforzheim was only 23.5 percent. Marvin Weiß described the low voter turnout as alarming and an indicator of the state of local democracy. 76.5 percent of citizens did not take part in the elections, which indicates a deep distrust in the city's leadership. In particular, growing social inequality, the tense situation on the housing market and child poverty pose enormous challenges for the city. The Left calls for a city policy that advocates for all citizens, with a clear focus on affordable housing and good education.

Criticism of prestige projects and social justice

A central point in the discussion is the investments in expensive prestige projects such as Stuttgart 21. Here the Left is sharply critical and instead demands that public money flow into improving the living conditions of citizens instead of into problematic large-scale projects. Marvin Weiß emphasizes that the health report belongs in the public sector and that municipal structures must be strengthened in order to better address the needs of citizens.

In addition, there is a debate about social division and declining voter turnout. According to [Bertelsmann Stiftung](https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/unsere-projekte/abschlosse-projekte/demokratiemonitor/projektthemen/gespaltene-demokratie-sociale-spaltung-der-wahl participation/), there is significantly lower voter turnout in socially weaker districts with high unemployment and low income. These findings are in line with recent developments in Pforzheim, where non-voters form a significant majority. There is therefore a risk of a break between politics and society if this trend is ignored.

The Left sees it as its duty to denounce this injustice and to develop real solutions to the problems that affect citizens. The aim is not only to increase voter turnout, but also to create policies that focus on people and act in a forward-looking manner. The coming years could be decisive for the political development in Pforzheim, and the responsibility lies with those involved in city politics, such as Mayor Boch.

Overall, it is clear that local politics is facing challenges that affect both the social conditions of the population and trust in elected representatives. The Left wants to act as an active force here and campaign for socially just changes. In view of the alarming developments, it is important to act now and to speak out for the people!