The Left party is calling for increased free swimming areas and a billion euros in federal funding in response to rising admission prices at public swimming pools. Party leader Luigi Pantisano told the Funke Media Group newspapers that he believes it is unacceptable that swimming pool prices are increasing alongside the rising temperatures. Since general costs are already going up, he stressed that swimming must be accessible to everyone during the summer heat.
Pantisano pointed out that over 20 percent of Germans cannot afford a vacation. For many low-income individuals, the public swimming pool serves as a small, affordable escape, and he argued that this should not become a luxury item. He added that many swimming pools are already facing the risk of closure in various locations, making alternatives, such as public bathing sites at lakes, even more precarious.
Therefore, the leader of The Left is demanding a stronger commitment from the federal government. According to Pantisano, nationwide subsidy programs are necessary to ensure the preservation of municipal swimming pools and keep admission fees affordable. Furthermore, he insists that safe, free bathing areas should be established wherever possible, along lakes and rivers. He specifies that the federal government must allocate a funding pot of one billion euros and distribute it to local municipalities based on equal contribution principles. He concluded that every family must have access to bathing spots near where they live, asserting, “Every child must be able to learn to swim.”
