"Fell off the couch" Jan van Aken reveals his Rheinmetall share saga
Jan van Aken discusses his stake in Rheinmetall, a German defense and automotive group.
Contributor: Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
In a notable twist, the co-chair of The Left party, Jan van Aken, doesn't intend to be seen as a stock broker, but his 150 euros investment in two Rheinmetall shares eight years ago has paid off handsomely.
At the party conference in Chemnitz, van Aken provoked a laugh from the 500-plus attendees when he announced his intentions to "cause a bit of trouble" at the upcoming annual general meeting of arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.
In his speech, van Aken shared that he "snagged two Rheinmetall shares eight years ago." He emphasized that this wasn't an investment move but rather an attempt for a voice in corporate meetings. "You can't drive change with nothing," he quipped.
"We'll keep the shares for now, the next annual general meeting is just around the corner, and maybe you'll hear from us then," van Aken joked.
Politics The Left: CDU should see us coming In an effort to emphasize that arms manufacturers thrive off the federal government's defense policy plans, van Aken made headlines yesterday. He also pushed for a windfall tax on profits reaped from war and suffering.
To underscore his point, van Aken shared that he nearly toppled off his chair upon discovering their profits had surged to 3,200 euros, starting from humble shares costing 180 euros initially.
"It's revolting that people amass such wealth from others' wars and misery," van Aken stated, echoing his call for a windfall tax.
Party leader Sören Pellmann also spoke, criticizing the proposed constitutional amendment for the debt brake, which potentially diverts funds towards defense. "It's insane, we've never seen an arms race like this before," Pellmann said, adding that The Left has been the stumbling block against arms buildup and militarization in the Bundestag.
"Warfare comes before social security," van Aken reprimanded the newly formed federal government. He found it "outrageous" to reform the debt brake to allocate more funds for defense while simultaneously compromising social services during coalition talks, presenting himself as a voice for the underprivileged.
Politics 'Us' vs 'Them': The class struggle according to Left Throughout his speech, van Aken maintained a contrast between "us" and "them," white collars dancing on the common man's nose and pinching his pockets. This new self-image of The Left stands as the champion of the working class, those who are not wealthy.
"We're not divided by citizenship, we're divided by the elite versus the masses,” van Aken clarified, stressing the Left's stand on social justice.
The Left's stance on arms buildup: Lone wolf or pack leader?
Yesterday, at The Left's gathering in Chemnitz, faction leader Heidi Reichinnek and party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner addressed the masses. They set out a plan for training new party members and put forth a resolution dealing with war and peace. A vocal minority within the party, however, appears to hold a different stance on armament.
Capital Undermining Party Congress? A delegate from Hesse expressed discontent towards sections of the party, who she believes are clinging to beliefs increasingly removed from reality, particularly regarding conflicts. "Alarmingly, the widespread call for rearmament stems from a very real cause—the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
Yet, this perspective remains largely in the minority among the Left. The resolution passed by the attendees declares that "manufacturing fear of a potential Russian attack on NATO territory is simply fear-mongering." Furthermore, "the depiction of the struggle between autocracy and democracy as a mere pretext for massive rearmament is just a transparent narrative to persuade the population."
Sources: ntv.de
- The Left
- German Defense Policy
- Friedrich Merz
- Chemnitz
- Party Congress
- Despite his unexpected financial gain from two Rheinmetall shares, Jan van Aken, the co-chair of The Left party, remains critical of the arms manufacturer, calling for a windfall tax on their profits reaped from war and suffering.
- The Left party, as a champion of the working class, is advocating for employment policies that prioritize vocational training and social justice, contrasting the interests of the elite.
- At the Party Congress in Chemnitz, party members debated the stance on arms buildup, with a vocal minority advocating for increased armament in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the majority of attendees rejected this perspective.
- As the annual general meeting of Rheinmetall approaches, Jan van Aken hinted that he and The Left party may make their presence known, citing their ongoing investment in the company as a means to drive change.
- The Left party, under the leadership of chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner, is dedicated to training new party members and addressing issues of war and peace, positioning themselves as a critical voice in German politics and defense policy discussions.
