Left Heidi Reichinnek about anger speech against Merz: “Was really horrified”

Poll values According to the left, the left gained popularity and cracked the five percent hurdle. Why is that?
People realize that we don’t just talk, but do it. And that we above all take a look at their problems. Example too high rents: We have a rental usury calculator and a heating cost calculator, people can contact us and we will help you get cash back. That speaks around.

You have also overtaken the BSW, which is currently four percent. Does that give you a feeling of satisfaction?
I am concerned with making good politics for the people in the country and that we can continue in the next parliamentary term in the Bundestag. For me that is the focus. I don’t see what it looks like with the others.

There is currently a flood of videos on social networks that explain the so -called tactical voting to the AfD to be damaged as much as possible. The left is often the only hope of the right of the right. Would she be happy or would you prefer if the citizens choose their party out of conviction?
Of course I know the videos for tactical choice. There are also a lot of people who say that you should choose a larger party. But at least as many who say: No, it takes a strong left, because it has a clear attitude against the right, stands up for social politics and also fights that society is not split. If more people realize how important this loud left voice is in the Bundestag, then of course this is a good thing for us.

Your party is particularly popular with young voters: in the age group of 18- to 29-year-olds, Greens and Leftists are currently almost equal. Is that the Silberlocke mission by Gregor Gysi, Dietmar Bartsch and Bodo Ramelow?
This is thanks to many factors. On the one hand, that we are particularly committed to young people, are very strong on social media and yes, also that the three gentlemen have started again. But it is also thanks to our party leader, Jan van Aken and Ines Schwerdtner, who give up a great figure. Since I come from youth welfare myself, I am very pleased that we address so many young people.

Why are the three old politicians well received by young voters?
I would say that Van Aken and I also arrive very well with young voters when we are on the go. At Van Aken there were hundreds of people in Stuttgart, too, with me in Nuremberg. Yesterday I was with Bodo Ramelow in Erfurt, where not everyone fit into the hall. I think it’s just the left as a party that is well received. But yes, Gysi and Ramelow experience their second spring on social media a bit, but are supported by our left -wing youth and are really fun.

You yourself are very active on social media. Have you now announced the fight on the AfD on social networks?
We have always announced right -wing extremists. But I went to Tiktok back then when I came to the Bundestag in 2021 because it was important to me to reach people in this way too. I go to information stands, front doors, on podiums, but also on social media because I want to speak to people at eye level. I would like to explain to you why it is important to get involved politically and how what happens in the Bundestag has an impact on your life. It works very well there. Many people need such a loud, clear voice. I noticed that at least in the last week when many thanked me for wearing their frustration and anger into the Bundestag.

Her Bundestag speech from last week, in which she accused Merz the break with the fire wall, went viral – at Tiktok, the video had almost six million views. Do you think such videos could be the tongue of young voters on the scales?
It can be. It is definitely a building block of our campaign and party strategy. Another component is our people who work in local politics and hold their face every day. We set clear topics such as affordable foods, better pensions and better wages. We stand for more investments in education, health system and climate protection. Above all, our party is not available. We are the only ones in the Bundestag who do not accept donations from large corporations. Now that we can make it clear to people, it works.

In the speech, they were very in rage and showed the emotions that they felt themselves in the eyes of many. Was that planned, or was it just broken out of them at that moment?
That was not planned. So I had prepared the first speech in the debate, of course. But after it happened that this motion for resolution really got through, I was really horrified. I honestly didn’t expect that. I then wrote down a few things that I wanted to let out, but in the end it was simply spontaneously out of my stomach. I think that was also the important thing: that people see, there are people with real emotions, they really go for with their own conviction. In the end, this shows that you could identify with it.