Village life politicized Markus Gleichmann. At 14, he and his parents moved from Jena to the rural town of Eichenberg near Kahle, about 20 kilometers south. Poor mobility, fears for the future, social tensions, conflicts between left and right – there was plenty of material for debate in the rural area. In the small town, Gleichmann quickly came into contact with active local politicians in the town and district, so his first voluntary steps into politics were not far away – he was just 21 years old at the time. Gleichmann later found his political home with the Left Party.