Forum Demokratische Linke 21

Forum Demokratische Linke 21 (DL 21) is a left-wing current within the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), organized as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) based in Berlin. Founded in 2000 as the successor to the Frankfurter Kreis, it aims to push the SPD toward a clearly left-wing course, advocating a strong welfare state, expanded economic democracy and co-determination, and redistribution policies that promote social justice. The social-ecological transformation is framed as a question of social justice. The name "21" reflects the founding year 2000 and the ambition to formulate a contemporary left social-democratic response to the challenges of the 21st century. The association is headquartered at Müllerstraße 163 in Berlin and is represented by Lino Leudesdorff, Ülker Radziwill and Sebastian Roloff according to its imprint. It maintains regional subgroups in several German states and publishes in the journal spw – Zeitschrift für sozialistische Politik und Wirtschaft, with further DL-21 publications appearing through the associated publishing house. Membership in the SPD is not a requirement for joining the association; members finance its activities through membership dues, with members of state and federal parliaments paying higher fees. In 2008 the forum had 650 members and revenues of €65,000. By 2023 it had around 1,200 members, including roughly 50 holding mandates or government responsibility. A Spiegel article once described the group as a "party within the party." DL 21 has been shaped by prominent SPD figures. Andrea Nahles chaired it from its founding until 2008, followed by Björn Böhning (2008–2011), Hilde Mattheis (2011–2021), and then Lino Leudesdorff, Ülker Radziwill and Sebastian Roloff (2021–2023). Since 30 October 2023, Jan Dieren, Erik von Malottki and Alma Kleen have been its chairs. The group has experienced internal tensions: a 2014 press release by Mattheis on the minimum wage law led to the resignations of Nahles, Florian Pronold, Christine Lambrecht, Niels Annen, Angela Marquardt and Benjamin Mikfeld, who criticized DL 21's general stance as fundamental opposition. In June 2024 DL 21 submitted a members' petition titled "Unsere Demokratie nicht wegkürzen, in unsere Zukunft investieren!" to prevent cuts in social affairs, health, youth, family, education, democracy and development cooperation; the SPD leadership deemed the vote legally inadmissible.

Forum Demokratische Linke 21 (DL 21) was founded in 2000 as the successor organization to the Frankfurter Kreis, a left-wing SPD grouping. The founding was motivated by the view that after the former 1968 generation had successfully "marched through the institutions," a new impulse for left-wing politics was needed. Andrea Nahles became the first chair, holding the position until 2008. Detlev von Larcher, previously spokesperson of the Frankfurter Kreis, became first deputy chair. Founding members also included then Juso chair Benjamin Mikfeld, Bundestag members Konrad Gilges and Thomas Sauer, and state politicians Rudolf Borchert, Gernot Grumbach, Klaus Hahnzog, Joachim Schuster and Elke Seidel. In the mid-2000s, alongside Nahles, figures such as Niels Annen, Hilde Mattheis, Ernst Dieter Rossmann and then Juso chair Björn Böhning shaped DL 21's profile. Böhning took over the chair from Nahles in 2008. In 2011 he was succeeded by Hilde Mattheis, who prevailed in her election against Angela Marquardt. Mattheis was followed in 2021 by Lino Leudesdorff, Ülker Radziwill and Sebastian Roloff. Since 30 October 2023, Jan Dieren, Erik von Malottki and Alma Kleen have been chairs of the grouping. The association recruits its own members, who finance its actions through membership dues. SPD membership is not a prerequisite for joining the association. Members of state and federal parliaments pay higher dues. In 2008 the forum had 650 members and revenues of €65,000. It maintains regional subgroups in ten federal states. Members publish in the journal spw – Zeitschrift für sozialistische Politik und Wirtschaft, and further DL-21 publications appear through the associated publishing house. A Spiegel article described the group as a "party within the party." A press release by chair Mattheis on the minimum wage law ("Ausnahmen vom Mindestlohn sind unsozial") led in July 2014 to the resignations of Andrea Nahles, Florian Pronold, Christine Lambrecht, Niels Annen, Angela Marquardt and Benjamin Mikfeld. They cited not the specific statement but the general stance DL 21 had adopted under Mattheis's leadership, which they criticized as fundamental opposition. Already in October 2013, Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel and former DL-21 chair Björn Böhning had left the association, with Böhning attributing to it "a certain pleasure in intra-party defeat." The resignations were seen in press reports as a split of the left party wing and a loss of significance for DL 21. During the debate over re-entering the Grand Coalition in 2017 and 2018, the forum's membership grew by more than 30 percent. By 2023 it had around 1,200 members, including roughly 50 holding mandates or government responsibility. In June 2024 DL 21 submitted a members' petition titled "Unsere Demokratie nicht wegkürzen, in unsere Zukunft investieren!" to prevent cuts in social affairs, health, youth, family, education, democracy and development cooperation. The SPD leadership considered the vote legally inadmissible, arguing that budget legislation lies exclusively with the German Bundestag and not with party members.

• 2024

  DL 21 submits a members' petition against budget cuts; SPD leadership deems it legally inadmissible.

• 2023

  Jan Dieren, Erik von Malottki and Alma Kleen become chairs on 30 October.

• 2021

  Lino Leudesdorff, Ülker Radziwill and Sebastian Roloff become chairs.

• 2014

  Resignations of Andrea Nahles, Florian Pronold, Christine Lambrecht, Niels Annen, Angela Marquardt and Benjamin Mikfeld following a press release by Mattheis on the minimum wage law.

• 2013

  Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel and former chair Björn Böhning leave the association.

• 2011

  Hilde Mattheis becomes chair, defeating Angela Marquardt in the election.

• 2008

  Björn Böhning succeeds Andrea Nahles as chair.

• 2000

  Forum Demokratische Linke 21 founded as successor to the Frankfurter Kreis; Andrea Nahles becomes chair.

Left-wing current within the SPD advocating a strong welfare state, economic democracy and redistribution.

1. 1Startseite - Forum DL21 e.V.dl21.de
2. 2Geschichte der DL21 - Forum DL21 e.V.dl21.de
3. 3Forum Demokratische Linke 21wikidata.org
4. 4Forum Demokratische Linke 21de.wikipedia.org