Jusos NRW | New Juso boss in North Rhine-Westphalia wants more class struggle

Photo: Jusos NRW In her application speech for the chairmanship of the Jusos in North Rhine-Westphalia, Michelle Gnatzy spoke about the fact that she wanted to redistribute the wealth to those who created it. This caused critical questions on the WDR radio program, saying that the statement sounded very much like class struggle rhetoric.

The 20-year-old responds refreshingly that of course it is class struggle rhetoric, and she also sees class struggle as “not a bad thing”. On the contrary, she believes that the SPD needs to get back to “more class struggle.” Prosperity simply does not benefit the people who “get up every morning and go to work for ten hours.” Gnatzy wants to change that.

»Prosperity must go back to the people who created it. Social democracy must once again live up to its duty to radically reduce the absurd wealth inequality in society.

Economic policy is one of the main focuses of the Dortmund native, who also studies economics in her hometown and works as a working student for the SPD parliamentary group. She is “burning” for feminist economics and wants the Jusos to “deal with what effects economic systems have on gender.” Michelle Gnatzy also believes that the rise of the extreme right is at least partly based on economics and is therefore calling for an anti-fascist economic policy.

Speaking of anti-fascism: In the summer of 2024, Gnatzy was attacked while dismantling an SPD stand at a street festival. The attacker emphasized that he was German and asked Michelle Gnatzy if she was left-wing. The young socialist replied in the affirmative and was suddenly hit in the face. The perpetrator was known to the police for similar crimes. Gnatzy wasn't intimidated by the attack. On the contrary, in Dortmund she is active in alliances against the right. She gave a speech at a rally against an AfD event with star guest Björn Höcke.

Gnatzy's goal for the next year: Bring a strengthened, rejuvenated SPD into the Düsseldorf state parliament and take over the state chancellery. The Jusos want to ensure that the SPD not only stands for “preventing worse things,” but also for a “better future.”

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