Original: FT.com \/O/ Europe - New leftwing alliance to challenge SPD Lafontaine joined the WASG on June 18 , 2005 and was selected to head their list for the 2005 Federal Election in North Rhine-Westphalia on the same day .
Simplified: He joined the WASG on June 18 , 2005 and was selected to head their list for the 2005 Federal Election in North Rhine-Westphalia on the same day .