Oskar Lafontaine: Review of 20 years after leaving SPD!

Oskar Lafontaine: Review of 20 years after leaving SPD!

On May 24, 2025, the German politician Oskar Lafontaine looks back on a moving career that took a new turning point 20 years ago when he left the SPD. Lafontaine, who will soon be 82 years old, joined various left -wing small parties and remains a controversial figure in German politics to this day. In a recent talk show, he spoke about his experiences and doubts about the SPD, which for him represents a negative leading stir, despite his earlier ambitions to become Chancellor and to rule with the party. T-Online reports that after an attempt in 1990 Politics changed sustainably.

The attack was a turning point in Lafontaine's life. He felt badly treated by his party, especially when the SPD expected him to win the 1990 Bundestag election against Helmut Kohl. He was unable to fulfill this responsibility and was perceived as the wrong candidate at the wrong time because political reunification was not interested. Lafontaine repeatedly warned of economic difficulties and mass unemployment, but voters did not reward him for his predictions. wikipedia added that from 1998 to 1999 he was as finance minet in the Schröder cabinet before leaving his offices in 1999 and the SPD finally left behind.

The way to the left

In 2005 he founded the election alternative work & social justice (WASG), which later joined the PDS to form the left party. Lafontaine became party chairman in this new constellation from 2007 to 2010 and campaigned for social justice during this time, but this was not without internal conflicts. taz reports that the left is confronted with problems such as party exclusion procedures and the voluntary exit of members. Lafontaine's desire for target adjustment failed due to the internal disagreements.

The difficulties within the left, including the complexity of political positions and the disagreement between the Greens and the Left, have contributed to their crumbling. Lafontaine, who is now considered a fallen prophet of economic difficulties, was removed from the Left Party in 2022 and ended his political career. wikipedia further explains that in 2024 he joined the alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht, which illustrates his continuing relevance in political discourse.

a politician with history

Oskar Lafontaine was born on September 16, 1943 in Saarlautern and is a former Prime Minister of the Saarland. His political career began with his entry into the SPD in 1966, he was the state chairman from 1977 to 1985 and campaigned against the NATO double decision. Despite his setbacks, he remains a remarkable player who has shaped the German political landscape for many years and has repeatedly caused discussions in his recent years, especially with his sharp statements about the euro zone and refugee policy.