In a scathing critique, the leader of the Left Faction, Reichinnek, has lambasted the Union after the election of the Parliamentary Control Committee. Reichinnek does not believe her party or herself failed, stating in an interview with ARD-Tagesthemen, “The Union has once again failed democracy. They may think they have damaged me or my party, but in the end, they have, once again, damaged democracy. And that is the real problem.”
Reichinnek pointed out that, in the future, only one member of the opposition will be represented in the committee, which, in her opinion, demonstrates the CDU/CSU’s lack of regard for the rights of the opposition.
The lack of support from the Union during the election was described by Reichinnek as insincere. She claimed that the only ones who had provoked the situation were the Union’s own members. “They are the ones who made the issue so big in the first place” she said.
Reichinnek emphasized that her party is not the opposition by the grace of the governing factions. She recalled that both she and her co-leader, Schwerdtner, had previously criticized party chief Merz and faction leader Spahn. This, she said, was now the “cheap revenge.”
Reichinnek announced that the Union must approach her in the future for a cooperative relationship to pass on a level playing field. They will not simply be majority-makers.