The parliamentary group leader of the Left party, Heidi Reichinnek, has voiced sharp criticism of the budget proposal presented by the governing coalition. Speaking in Berlin on Monday ahead of a Left party caucus meeting, Reichinnek questioned the protracted negotiation process leading to the plan’s release. She characterized the final document as a largely unchanged version of the previous government’s budget, significantly augmented by increased defense spending. “It couldn’t have been that difficult to negotiate” she stated.
Reichinnek argues that the substantial funds allocated to military buildup are being diverted from crucial areas, citing a deficit in resources for civil conflict resolution. Beyond the immediate practical implications, she labeled the budget as “a catastrophe” for domestic policy, expressing concern that necessary reforms are being delayed. The Left leader criticized the government’s tendency to convene summits instead of making forward-looking investments in the economy, questioning when tangible progress will be achieved.
Regarding the utilization of funds from special purpose vehicles, Reichinnek asserted that the amounts are “nowhere near sufficient” to address the backlog of investment needs among local authorities. She emphasized that this underinvestment is a primary concern for citizens and contributes to a growing sense of economic decline. Reichinnek announced that the Left party will table a resolution concerning the budget as a formal response.