Friday October 15, 2021
Bartsch in the “early start”
“Energy prices are one of the biggest scandals”
For a long time the left is mentioned as a possible partner in an SPD-led coalition, then it crashes in the federal election. Co-parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch looks excitedly at what the possible traffic light coalition wants to offer and sees some things that need to be corrected.
The parliamentary group leader of the Left, Dietmar Bartsch, expects the possible traffic light government to get the energy prices under control. “This is one of the biggest scandals. It was promised before the energy transition that prices would go down,” he said in the “early start” on ntv. “I expect from the traffic lights that there is a fundamental reform here.”
Bartsch assumes that the SPD, Greens and FDP will enter into coalition negotiations, despite the differences between the three parties. “There are diametrical positions in the election platforms,” he said. “How to resolve that is quite interesting.” The new government is facing huge challenges. “The grand coalition has put powdery mildew over the country on many issues,” said Bartsch.
The left-wing politician calls for massive investments in renewable energies and for action to be taken in the transport of energy and in the approval process. “I really expect something from the traffic lights,” he said. It is unclear how the change promised by the SPD, Greens and FDP can be financed without the citizens being heavily burdened. “That is the central question.” The social division should not increase. You have to have the courage to say clearly where you want to get the money from. “Anyone who thinks to please everyone: That won’t work,” said Bartsch.
“Build, build, build” is not enough against rising rents
Bartsch also commented on the formation of a government in Berlin. Surprisingly for many, the winner of the Berlin election, Franziska Giffey, said on Thursday that she wanted to go into further exploratory talks with the Greens and the Left, even though she had previously favored a traffic light. “Yes, Ms. Giffey expressed herself differently,” said Bartsch. “I think you have to look ahead now.”
One point of conflict in the formation of a government in Berlin could be the discussion about the expropriation of large housing groups: While Franziska Giffey had stressed during the election campaign that there would be no expropriations with her, the Berlin left campaigned aggressively and spoke out in favor of it.
The problem of rising rents must be tackled in the capital, said Bartsch – after the majority of Berliners voted in favor of the expropriations in a referendum and the rent cap had been collected for the first time. “That is why this is one of the great challenges that cannot be answered with simple answers such as ‘build, build, build’; there really has to be a package here.”