Dietmar Bartsch, the former leader of the Left Party parliamentary group and a member of the Bundestag, maintains that social protests against government policies are legitimate even within Germany. Speaking to the “Welt” TV news channel, he stated that Die Linke will continue to call for such demonstrations. However, he strongly stipulated that these protests must remain non-violent, contrasting this requirement with situations observed in France.
Bartsch emphasized his strong opposition to any unrest, telling the TV channel on Wednesday, “It is absolutely not about riots. I am a strong opponent of riots. I also find unacceptable everything that has escalated, where businesses have been destroyed, including those of small business owners.”
The Left Party politician affirmed that protesting political decisions-both in France and in Germany-is justifiable. In response to calls for introspection among politicians who are currently facing scrutiny, he suggested that those involved in political decisions should question what changes they might need to implement in their policies. He was unequivocal: “Protest is legitimate, violence is not legitimate.” He also expressed his hope that his own party would take a clear stance against violence.
According to Bartsch, Die Linke intends to continue engaging with demonstration organizations and protests wherever possible, noting, “We have always done that, and we will continue to do so.” He asserted, “It is clear: We do not agree with this policy.” However, he urged demonstrators to ensure the protest remains peaceful and clearly communicates that they desire a different political direction. He noted that ultimate change is decided by electoral results, citing upcoming votes in cities like Berlin and across states such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Saarland, and Schleswig-Holstein.
Bartsch criticized the federal government, arguing that through tax increases and ever-growing interest burdens, it is creating an environment conducive to social protests. He claimed, “This is also the problem with tax policy: everything is tried to be resolved through new debt without looking at the long-term outlook. That is a huge mistake.” The Left Party member dismissed the influence of current government figures, commenting that “Klingbeil and Merz are leading us to the intensive care unit of fiscal and then political policies.” He acknowledged that the resulting protests can sometimes be difficult to manage, saying, “Yes, I want peaceful protests, not violence-but I also know what the cause of that is.”
