We Fight for the Introduction of a Solidary Alternative

Bernd Riexinger outlines the draft‘s political direction of impact: „Social justice is the programme for DIE LINKE. Many share our discontent about a society, where huge wealth masses in the hands of a few, while many do not get fairly paid for their work. Many do not approve of getting through the crisis badly and still being expected to pay the costs of it. Many seek, like us, a society in which people count more than banks. Collectively instead of solitary, together instead of against one another, cooperation instead of competition, in short: More we!
Our draft sketches the key points of a solidary alternative to an all against all capitalism. We fight against poverty, want to redistribute wealth, stand up for good wages and pensions, we give a voice to the interests of Eastern Germany, are incorruptible against war and arms exports and have a vision for a social-ecological rebuilding of economy and society. But we also say introducing a fairer policy is quickly achievable. In our draft we define the political core contents we will fight for in the next four years.“

Katja Kipping emphasizes the programmatical profile of DIE LINKE: „We have changed politics and put social security on the agenda of all parties. Now we want to become the engine for real changes. Because of that we prepare for the election campaign with core claims only we are guaranteeing. We say a minimum wage has to be high enough to make a living from a full-time job and receive a sufficient pension in old-age. We say basis security has to be high enough for no one falling below poverty line. We say pensions have to secure the achieved living standard and have to be index-linked. We say the state has to prevent the explosion of energy prices and rents by strict rules. We say privatisation must in future be put under provision of referenda. We want to call on the rich for financing the social-ecological change through fair taxes on high incomes and assets. We say there is an alternative to the unreasonable deployment of the federal army (Bundeswehr) – the multilateral abandonment of arms exports. We fight for the votes of all those who want to give politics a new direction.“

Riexinger envisages a „tough challenge“ and predicts a „simulated left-wing right-wing election campaign“. He says: „If one ventures a close look the political differences between Merkel and Steinbrück are marginal. We want more than merely a privileged solidarity within the middle class. We have an eye for the current social problems and the necessary drive.

Kipping points out: „We are realistic about the federal election campaign. We want to get as close as possible to our very good result of 2009. We enter the campaign as an independent political power and will press hard for sociale justice where the voters place us. We want to let the the voters know what they can expect from DIE LINKE in the next Bundestag term.“