Activist Carola Rackete gives up her seat in the EU Parliament

Refugee and climate activist Carola Rackete wants to give up her mandate for the Left Party in the European Parliament. "From the outset, my candidacy and my mandate had the aim of contributing to the renewal of the party - a process that is proceeding successfully," she said in a statement. "As a person from social movements, my team and I have been discussing how to shape the mandate collectively from the outset." This is now being done by relinquishing her mandate. Her successor is to be Martin Günther from Brandenburg.

Rackete entered the European Parliament in June 2024 as the non-party lead candidate for the Left Party in Saxony. Saxony's Left Party Chairwoman Anja Eichhorn praised Rackete's commitment to social justice, climate protection and the rights of refugees. "Carola is firmly rooted in the social movements and has always maintained this solidarity during her time in office," emphasized co-chair Marco Böhme.

The climate activist Rackete became internationally known as a captain in 2019 when she sailed to the island of Lampedusa with the ship "Sea Watch 3" and refugees rescued from distress at sea on board despite a ban by the Italian authorities.