Shortly before the state elections on September 1, the Left Party’s MP Kati Engel resigned from the party. A spokesman for the state association confirmed that Engel had announced her resignation by email. On Facebook, the 42-year-old from West Thuringia wrote that she had decided to take this step in connection with investigations into another Left Party MP on suspicion of possession of child pornography.
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«This morning, after more than twenty years, I announced my immediate resignation from the Left Party. For me as a child politician, it is unacceptable [sic]how the party deals with allegations of child pornography within its own ranks,” wrote Engel in a post. She criticized, for example, that the suspected MP had not been asked to resign from his existing state parliament mandate.
Investigations as a shock for the party
After the immunity was lifted, the state parliament office of the suspected MP was searched on Tuesday. According to previous statements by Left Party parliamentary group leader Steffen Dittes, the man announced that he would resign from all his positions in the party and parliamentary group. This also applies to his activities in the state election campaign.
Many representatives of the Left Party reacted with dismay to the allegations. If the allegations are true, he expects harsh consequences, wrote Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow on X. “It must be clarified quickly, completely and consistently.” Dittes and the party leadership assured the police and public prosecutor of all support.
Engel was the spokesperson for children and youth policy in the parliamentary group. According to her website, the 42-year-old joined the predecessor party of the Left Party, the PDS, in 2003 and has been a member of the state parliament since 2014. She is not running again in the upcoming state election.
Shortly before the state elections on September 1, the Left Party’s MP Kati Engel resigned from the party. A spokesman for the state association confirmed that Engel had announced her resignation by email. On Facebook, the 42-year-old from West Thuringia wrote that she had decided to take this step in connection with investigations into another Left Party MP on suspicion of possession of child pornography.
«This morning, after more than twenty years, I announced my immediate resignation from the Left Party. For me as a child politician, it is unacceptable [sic]how the party deals with allegations of child pornography within its own ranks,” wrote Engel in a post. She criticized, for example, that the suspected MP had not been asked to resign from his existing state parliament mandate.
