The parliamentary group leader of the Left party, Heidi Reichinnek, has voiced strong criticism of the budget plan presented by the black-red coalition government.
Speaking in Berlin on Monday ahead of a Left party group meeting, Reichinnek questioned the lengthy negotiation process leading to the finalized budget. She characterized the plan as a largely unchanged iteration of the previous “traffic light” coalition’s budget, significantly augmented by increased allocations for defense spending. “It couldn’t have been that difficult to negotiate” she remarked.
Reichinnek expressed concern that the substantial investment in military expenditure is diverting resources from other crucial areas, specifically citing the field of civil conflict resolution. She further asserted that the budget’s implications extend beyond international affairs, describing it as a “disaster” for domestic policy and lamenting the lack of overdue stimulus measures. The leader criticized the government’s reliance on conferences and summits as substitutes for meaningful investment in the national economy, questioning when tangible progress would be realized.
Regarding funds derived from the special asset fund, Reichinnek deemed the amount “nowhere near sufficient” to address the backlog of investment needs within local governments. She stated that this persistent issue is a major source of concern for communities and fuels a perception of worsening conditions. In response, Reichinnek announced that the Left party faction will be submitting a resolution regarding the budget.
