At the latest when Stefan Liebich enters the stage of the Bonn World Congress Center, it is clear what the European political unity of the left is. Immediately before the foreign minister, Sabine Lösing, after all a member of the European Parliament, had warned against a "super-nation state" and peace myths of the European Union. And anyway, this European attitude to life: "What in the world is that supposed to be?"

Now Liebich. He will, the reformer announces, tell the opposite of what Lösing said. This is followed by a passionate plea for more Europe. As an East German, he could still remember the many controls on trips to the former SSR. It makes a difference if you drive through Europe today and only have to stop, "because you need a toll sticker or hungry".

In the back rows somebody shouts: "warmongers".

In this political framework, the Left Party has been moving for years. Some consider the EU a neoliberal invention with the aim of exploiting the masses. Some even want to abolish the Union. Others, in spite of all criticism, are campaigning for a positive European narrative in order not to scare off young and urban voters in particular and to remain capable of forming a coalition.

At the congress in Bonn, it is precisely this question of identity that still remains unanswered: what attitude towards Europe, with what sound does the left go into the EU election campaign?

It would have been quite possible this time to make a landmark decision. This was mainly due to two votes on the party's Europe program: delegates were to vote on the nature of the criticism of the existing EU situation and on a vision for Europe.

With the latter the pragmatists had ventured a far-reaching advance. They wanted to write the idea of ​​a "Republic of Europe" in the election program. A vision, as the Realos emphasize again and again. But after all, more than pure opposition policy. The proposal provides significantly more power for the European Parliament, a second chamber of states, a real EU government.

In agreement, not in feeling

The curious thing is that when it comes to concrete policy, to reforms, to a Europe-wide minimum wage, to disarmament, to higher taxes for corporations and large earners, there are hardly any serious differences on the left.

DPA

Katja Kipping

A lot more is argued about the emotional. This is shown by the discussion about the launching of the election program - and above all by a very specific formulation: in December, the board had written a long controversial passage in the draft - against the wishes of the party leaders Katja Kipping and Bernd Riexinger. "Militarist, undemocratic and neoliberal" - that is how the EU should be attacked in the program. An escalation that many moderates consider dangerous.

There had been a lot of trouble in the last weeks before the congress. Above all, the reform platform "Forum democratic socialism" (fds), which also includes Liebich and faction leader Dietmar Bartsch, outraged in public. Bartsch spoke of "anti-European platitudes".

Frantically, the left leadership tried to clear the topic in mid-February in order to prevent a break at the party congress. A few days before the meeting in Bonn, people agreed on a new formulation.

The draft now called for the revision of those Treaty foundations of the EU "that could commit to arming" or that could lead to military intervention. In addition, they wanted to abolish all regulations that prescribe a "neoliberal policy such as privatization, welfare cuts or market radicalization."

At the congress, the comrades decide at the end by a narrow majority for accepting the new version. The plan of the party leadership opens - the big escalation is missing. But it is a thin compromise. The corrections are rather cosmetic, hardly anything changes in content, but the comrades make less pronounced language.

Both sides are now trying to reclaim the text as their own success. The party thinker and vice fraction leader Fabio Di Masi says the formulation is now "much more accurate". The reformers say that the passage has been weakened. Is the left program now more or less EU-criticized? Further unclear.

And the "Republic of Europe"?

DPA

Özlem Demirel

In the debate on the "Republic of Europe", the reformers in Bonn actually had an advantage: Group leader Sahra Wagenknecht, still an icon of the left-wing camp and a sharp critic of the EU, is lacking for health reasons. Bartsch and party leader Katja Kipping speak for this. The latter has repeatedly expressed her sympathy for the idea of ​​the "Republic of Europe". In her speech on Friday, she appeals to the comrades: "We do not want a break-up of the EU."

But Kipping receives only tentative applause. A harbinger for the decision on Saturday.

The opponents of the "Republic of Europe" are sensing behind the plan the attempt to "launch an imperial entity". The EU must be overcome, calls a delegate. Another: The European Union is an association of the rich and powerful - "our enemies".

When the fds then brings in the "European Regions Republic" motion, only 214 comrades vote for it, 256 against. Declined. Just as the attempt of the radical wing, the EU to certify a non-reformability. Elsewhere, another petition reads "saving the European Union".

No directional decision so. The party remains divided in Europe.

No radiance, only subject matter

The question is whether the party can now be successful without a clear attitude to Europe alone with substantive issues in the election campaign. It is about focusing on the "concrete to leading battles," says left-board member Thomas North.

The party can hardly hope for the radiance of its top candidates. Presumably, the rather unknown Özlem Demirel and Martin Schirdewan will lead the party in the election campaign.

DPA

Gregory Gysi

No question, Gregor Gysi, now head of the European Left, is quite another caliber. The former faction leader has always been one of those who demanded a clear European statement. In Bonn he tries again. "We are voting for the European Parliament because we want European integration," he calls to the comrades. But the decision has already been made: the leftists do not want to decide.