Left Party leader Jan van Aken believes that CDU leader Friedrich Merz is also responsible for the AfD's increase in votes. Merz stands for a policy of "scapegoats", for example when he announces sanctions against recipients of citizens' benefits, he said at the Left Party conference in Chemnitz. Van Aken spoke of "agitation" and "division" and added: "The CDU has thus prepared a wonderful nest for the AfD. The AfD is sitting in this nest."
The new black-red government with Chancellor Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil will do nothing to solve the most pressing problems, including the "horrendous rents", continued van Aken. The high food prices were not even mentioned in the coalition agreement. "They don't know what's going on down here at all," he said. Merz does not know how people are doing. "He is pursuing an aloof policy, and that is why we must stop Merz and Klingbeil," he added.
The Left Party leader announced once again that his party would ultimately push through a nationwide rent cap. He added that action would be taken against usurious rents at a local level.
Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
