In response to the crisis facing the automotive manufacturer Volkswagen, Heidi Reichinnek, the chairwoman of the Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag, has called on the federal government to award more public contracts to the company. Reichinnek told the Funke media group that the stagnant situation at VW must serve as a call to action for the state and the federal government.
She proposed that the state utilize its authority as a major buyer, suggesting that the government could order an additional 10,000 electric buses from VW by 2030. Reichinnek suggested that the federal government should provide the funds necessary for this order, with municipalities serving as the principal contractors who would establish the corresponding framework agreements.
According to the Left politician, this move would not only be a significant step toward climate protection and the expansion of public transport, but it would also secure jobs and locations without forcing anyone to work for defense contractors, as is currently being considered in Osnabrück, a city known for its peace initiatives. Discussions are reportedly underway regarding the future production of military goods at the VW plant in Osnabrück.
Reichinnek noted that VW is planning to cut 50,000 jobs within Germany, and the future of several VW factories remains uncertain. She concluded by criticizing the federal government’s widespread inability to stimulate the economy with clear guidelines and investments, arguing that this failure is worse than public indifference to people’s concerns.
