"Slummin' it with the big guns" - Jan van Aken discusses his Rheinmetall stash
Jan Van Aken discusses his stake in Rheinmetall, a German defense technology company.
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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Politics and profits don't always mix, but that's not stopping the co-chair of the Left party, Jan van Aken, from "playing the wheeler-dealer" at the next shareholders' meeting of Rheinmetall.
Speaking to an audience of over 500 delegates, Aken revealed his ownership of two shares in the armaments company, emphasizing that this wasn't an investment - it was about making a splash. "You can't be a smartass or stir up trouble at a shareholders' meeting without the shares, ya know," he said.
"For now, we're keeping our shares, and the next meeting's sure to roll around soon enough - you might hear from us then," added Aken, hinting at potential trouble ahead.
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Aken shared the story of his shares to highlight the benefits reaped by arms companies from government defense policies. He also brought up the idea of a windfall tax. "I couldn't believe it when I checked yesterday - busy making banks with two lousy shares that cost just 180 bucks!" Aken exclaimed. "It's sickening that these folks get rich off other people's wars and suffering. That's why we need a windfall tax for companies like Rheinmetall."
"Upper crust vs. the rest"
The Left Party's parliamentary group leader, Sören Pellmann, voiced similar sentiments during his speech. He blasted the latest constitutional amendment regarding the debt brake, claiming it was "absurd" and "never seen before" levels of arms build-up. His faction in the Bundestag had been the "shield against armament and militarization."
Aken accused the new federal government of focusing on military spending over social security. He labeled the reform of the debt brake to free up cash for defense "outrageous" and pointed out that during the exploratory talks, Merz had already announced cuts in the social sector. "They've got no idea what's going on down here," he said of the coalition between Union and SPD.
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Throughout his speech, Aken drew a line between the "haves" and the "have-nots," reflecting the Left Party's new self-image as a champion for the "working class" - those who are not part of the "upper crust." "The class divide doesn't lie between someone who holds a German passport or not," Aken said. "The line is always drawn between the rich and powerful, who rule the roost, and the little guy."
A dissenting minority takes a different view on arms build-up
During the Left Party's congress in Chemnitz, party leader Heidi Reichinnek and party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner spoke, adopting a guiding motion that mainly outlines the party's plans for training new members. A motion on the topic of war and peace was also discussed and adopted. Evidently, there was a group of delegates who did not share the faction and party leadership's unyielding stance on armament.
For example, a delegate from Hesse expressed concern about "hardline ideals that are increasingly out of touch with reality," especially regarding matters related to war and peace. "Instead of fear-mongering over Russia's potential threats to NATO territory, let's focus on peace and diplomacy to address the underlying issues."
This view was clearly a minority position within the Left. The resolution adopted by the delegates on Friday evening stated: "Invoking the fear that Russia might soon attack NATO territory is merely meant to stir up panic." Furthermore, "the so-called struggle between autocracy and democracy" is "a convenient narrative to suggest the need for massive armament to the masses."
References: ntv.de
- The Left
- German Defense Policy
- Friedrich Merz
- Chemnitz
- Party Congress
- Despite the controversial mix of politics and profits, Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left party, ownerships two shares in Rheinmetall, a move he describes as a means to cause a stir at shareholders' meetings.
- Aken used his ownership of shares in Rheinmetall to highlight the financial benefits arms companies reap from government defense policies and advocated for a windfall tax on such companies.
- The Left party's parliamentary group leader, Sören Pellmann, echoed Aken's sentiments, criticizing the recent constitutional amendment on the debt brake and the excessive arms build-up, and accusing the new federal government of focusing on military spending over social security.
- During the Left Party's congress in Chemnitz, there were dissenting voices that questioned the party's hardline stance on armament, with some arguing for a focus on peace and diplomacy rather than fear-mongering over potential threats to NATO territory.
