A leading figure within the Left party, Ines Schwerdtner, is calling for increased transparency regarding budgetary matters and decision-making processes within the federal government. She argues that citizens deserve the right to understand how national finances are managed.
Schwerdtner, a member of the parliamentary budget committee, voiced concern over the fact that interviews conducted with Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn and a special investigator, Margaretha Sudhoff, regarding the procurement of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic took place behind closed doors within the budget committee. She expressed bewilderment as to why details shared in non-public sessions could not be disclosed to the public. Describing this lack of transparency as a “significant democratic deficit” Schwerdtner criticized what she termed a “secret round of consultations” surrounding the mask procurement process.
Several opposition parties are advocating for the establishment of an investigative committee to examine Spahn’s involvement in the mask affair. Such a committee would require a quarter of the votes from all members of parliament to be initiated, necessitating the unified support of the Left, the Green Party and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). This presents a substantial dilemma for Schwerdtner, who acknowledged numerous reasons why Spahn should consider resigning. However, she stressed that she would not compromise the party’s fundamental principles to support an inquiry.
Schwerdtner emphasized the need for the Left to maintain its distinct political identity, particularly given that many voters chose the party motivated by concerns about a potential shift to the right. Instead of supporting an investigative committee that would necessitate alignment with the AfD, she appealed to the sense of responsibility within both the CDU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). A mere nine votes from either of those parties are needed to trigger the parliamentary inquiry.
Schwerdtner recently examined a publicly released strategy document from the AfD. The document outlines the party’s plan to gain governing responsibility by exploiting divisions within the traditional governing coalitions. She highlighted that deliberately instigated cultural conflicts targeting the Left party feature prominently in this approach, referencing the recent election of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf as a constitutional judge as an example. Schwerdtner believes it is crucial for the Left to avoid falling into this strategic trap.
Instead, Schwerdtner suggested focusing on challenging the AfD’s stance on social issues such as rent control and wealth taxes, pointing to what she describes as a “blatant double standard” regarding the substantial monthly allowances received by AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
