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Dietmar Bartsch
Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek / IMAGO
The left will vote in the Bundestag for the planned increase of the minimum wage to twelve euros by the traffic light coalition.
The increase in the minimum wage was a "good decision," said left-wing parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch in the ZDF morning magazine.
"We will agree to such a step, even if it is not yet completely sufficient."
Even with a minimum wage of twelve euros, at the end of one's working life "you will still be covered by basic security when you retire," said Bartsch.
Nevertheless, the increase to this amount is a right decision, from which many people benefit, especially in East Germany.
Left wants to be "social conscience in the Bundestag"
Overall, there are in the coalition agreement of the traffic lights socio-politically and "with some social measures positive things," said Bartsch.
This will support the left.
The parliamentary group leader of the Left announced at the same time that his parliamentary group wanted to be "the social conscience in the Bundestag" as the opposition.
His group is particularly critical of the federal government's tax and pension plans.
Bartsch sees the year 2022 as the year of stabilization for his party.
"We had a very difficult year in 2021. But now we have to roll up our sleeves and make a determined start again."
The left collapsed from 9.2 to 4.9 percent in the federal election in September.
The move into the Bundestag only succeeded because she won three direct mandates.
The party is now represented in the Bundestag with 39 MPs (previously 69).
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil announced in mid-December that the draft law to increase the minimum wage to twelve euros would be the first official act at the beginning of the new year.
Millions of people in Germany would benefit from the increase, mostly women, said the SPD politician of the "Rheinische Post".
svs / dpa / AFP