By AGEED BOZTEMUR
Bernd Riexinger, the co-leader of Germany’s Die Linke Party, says his party “will always support the Kurds.” Kurds and other immigrants mainly support Die Linke, the fourth-largest in parliament with 76 seats, and Riexinger says that is because it stands against cutting social benefits and other rights. Sevim Dagdelen, the only Kurdish MP in the German parliament, has a parliamentary seat from Die Linke, although there are a number of Kurdish MPs from the same party in the regional parliaments. In this interview with Rudaw, Riexinger says he backs a petition to recognize the Kurds as a nationality.
Rudaw: Why do foreigners, particularly the Kurds, choose your party over other parties in Germany?
Bernd Riexinger: Among all the other German parties in the parliament, our party stands more against decreasing social benefits and aid. Moreover, our party fights for the rights of the workers and fights for the unemployed, defends their rights... I believe this policy of our party has gained the support of immigrants.
Also, immigrants cannot vote in Germany. We are in the center of Europe and speak of democracy, but do not allow the refugees to enter politics. Our party is also fighting for voting rights for immigrants.
The immigrants must enjoy all the rights that German citizens enjoy. Another issue is the racism that is ongoing in Germany, perhaps secretly. We do not remain silent in the face of racism. This is our slogan: “Hand in hand against Fascism.” These issues have made the immigrants support our party.
Rudaw: You do not have any immigrants nominated for higher government posts. If you are claiming to be so supportive of immigrants, then why not have any immigrants nominated?
Bernd Riexinger: The immigrants’ issues are discussed in our party, but we do not want to make it the biggest concern of our party. In the regional parliaments we have many successful MPs that have come from immigrant families. They bring the immigrants’ issues to discussion in the regional parliaments. If we do not have any candidates in our eight nominees, that does not mean we do not value the demands of the immigrants.
Rudaw: But if a party supports the immigrants that much, would it not have been a good idea to nominate an immigrant for one of the posts?
Bernd Riexinger: Well, we have already forwarded the names of the eight candidates, and it is impossible to change it now. However, in our election campaign we will have to pay attention to this issue. We want to work with the immigrants’ organizations and establishments.
Rudaw: In the German parliament your party was the only one that stood against placing Patriot missiles on the borders of northern Kurdistan or western Kurdistan. Why?
Bernd Riexinger: Because this was a step to encourage civil war. That is a decision of war. Our party is against all wars and is a peaceful party. In all wars, the rich get richer and the poor, poorer. We are against the German army’s involvement in the wars and conflicts. This is our red line. For geostrategic gains, there are preparations for a war in Syria. Human rights and democracy are words of lies to cover the aims of war.
Rudaw: The Kurds in Germany in the past few months submitted a petition to the German parliament with 60,000 signatures, asking Germany to officially recognize the Kurdish identity and treat the Kurds as a nationality of their own. How did your party receive this petition?
Bernd Riexinger: I support this demand, in principle. However, I am not sure, if this could solve the issues.
Rudaw: Have you visited Kurdistan?
Bernd Riexinger: Unfortunately, I have not yet visited Kurdistan, but I would like to. I have many Kurdish friends and I am closely aware of the Kurdistan problem. There are attempts to destroy the Kurdish people via military methods. My party and I support the Kurds. We will always support the Kurds.
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