Left has to use the red pencil: The party coffers are bleeding among the losers

Left must apply the red pencil
The party coffers are bleeding among the losers

The parties are also feeling the losses in the Bundestag election in the cash register. While the Greens, SPD and FDP are expanding their voting accounts vigorously, the left in particular is going into the next legislature in a bad way. There they swear to painful cuts.

After its poor performance in the federal elections, the left has to prepare for financial losses. The election result means “a significant reduction” in state funds, said a party spokesman for “Welt”. “We are currently considering how we can cope with the associated challenge.” The left won 4.9 percent of the vote on Sunday, 4.3 percentage points less than in 2017.

The left faction in the Bundestag is similar to the party. It will be saved in “all items of the budget equally and to a similar extent,” said parliamentary group manager Volker Schneider of the newspaper. 75 percent of the parliamentary group’s budget has so far been allocated to staff. “We were thus above the actual target value of 70 percent in the past,” admitted Schneider. “This should apply as a guide in the new budget.” Overall, Schneider assumed “painful cuts”.

On the other hand, the Greens, who increased their Bundestag election result from 8.9 to 14.8 percent, can count on significantly more financial leeway: State subsidies are expected to rise from 15.7 to 18.1 million euros, according to the “Welt” in a message from the party. Accordingly, the Greens also received grants of more than 30 million euros last year. There is still no reliable information for 2021, but “due to the sustained membership growth, the many new mandate holders and the record donations in the federal election campaign, a further increase can be expected”.

Union and AfD also have to accept losses

The SPD, which had also gained in the federal elections, wants to budget carefully. “We are continuing to pursue our austerity course, which we have embarked on since 2018,” said a party spokeswoman for the newspaper. “Investments are pending in the area of ​​digitization.” The SPD had become the strongest force in the federal election with 25.7 percent. In 2017 she got 20.5 percent.

In Germany, parties receive money from the state for every vote. The amount of the payment is based on the results of the last Bundestag and European elections as well as the 16 state elections. The number of all votes received in the 18 elections is added to a vote account.

The current election year should also bag the Union, speculates the “world”, but without giving any figures. It suffered heavy losses in the federal government and in three states. The AfD also lost in all elections in 2021 and will get less money according to the financing key. The FDP increased almost everywhere and will expand its voting account.

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