Left Party forges alliance with unions and welfare groups against Merz's cuts
At a 'social summit' in the Bundestag, the Left, the DGB union federation and welfare groups criticised government cuts. No joint declaration was issued.
Archive image · Photo: Jannis Hutt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The Left Party hosted a "social summit" in the Bundestag with representatives of trade unions and welfare associations, aimed at stopping the Merz government's savings plans, t-online reported. Parliamentary leader Sören Pellmann asked why there was money for rearmament but not for the welfare state and called for large fortunes to bear more of the burden.
DGB chief Yasmin Fahimi, an SPD member, argued for a broader concept of the welfare state that also covers housing and education. Katja Kipping of the Paritätische welfare association called for full long-term care insurance, while VdK president Verena Bentele warned that the cuts endangered social peace.
Parliamentary co-leader Heidi Reichinnek said the guests' attendance showed unions and associations saw the Left as a strong partner. She listed plans her party opposes, including raising the retirement age and ending the eight-hour day. Resistance would come "in parliament" and "on the street", she said. The meeting ended without a joint declaration.