Left Party Caucus Leader Says VW Crisis Poses a Challenge for the Government

According to Left Party politician Heidi Reichinnek, the federal government must take action in response to the crisis at Volkswagen. “Instead of backtracking on the phase-out of internal combustion engines, we need consistent steps toward e-mobility through reliable and clear guidelines as well as a large-scale investment package,” the leader of the Left Party faction in the Bundestag told the German Press Agency. She also called for more worker participation in companies to leverage employees’ expertise.

Reichinnek sharply criticized the company’s management. “Over the past five years, VW has distributed nearly 30 billion euros to its shareholders instead of investing sufficiently in the company’s future,” she said. “To make up for this, the company’s top management now wants to bleed the workforce dry by closing four plants and cutting another 50,000 jobs.” By focusing on returns for the few, management is driving the company into the ground, Reichinnek said.