The Left Party is above all bad news for Germany's social democrats - Journal (english) TT 22.02.2008 12:00 UTC

The Left Party is above all bad news for Germany's social democrats. It's been stealing voters from among the SPD's traditional working class supporters. That's triggered a huge debate in social democrat ranks. Should the party cling to the middle ground of German politics, or shift left and challenge the Left Party head on. Or, should it perhaps begin to think about coalitions with the left at local and national level?