Jan van Aken
Member of the Bundestag for Die Linke (Hamburg); co-chair of Die Linke from October 2024 to June 2026 · Die Linke (The Left)
Where they stand
The latest thing they said on each issue, dated. Tap an issue for their words and the source.
Economy and energy
Debt brake Abolish the debt brake
Said
The coalition only loosened the debt brake one-sidedly for armament instead of abolishing it or reforming it at the root.
“Statt die Schuldenbremse abzuschaffen oder grundsätzlich zu reformieren, wird sie nur sehr einseitig ausgehebelt.”
Our translation Instead of abolishing the debt brake or fundamentally reforming it, it is only being circumvented in a very one-sided way.
- Nuclear powerNothing on record yet
- Combustion enginesNothing on record yet
Society
Asylum Keep the right to asylum open
Said
Germany is not overwhelmed by the number of migrants, and many municipalities say they could take in more.
“Wir sind nicht „objektiv überfordert“. Es gibt viele Kommunen, die ausdrücklich sagen, dass sie mehr Migranten aufnehmen könnten.”
Our translation We are not "objectively overwhelmed". There are many municipalities that say explicitly that they could take in more migrants.
Source Linken-Chef: „Klare Kante bei Migration und Rassismus“ (interview, Stuttgarter Zeitung) (as reported by stuttgarter-zeitung.de)
Citizen's income Keep or raise it
Said
He opposed the SPD's call for hard sanctions on Bürgergeld recipients and said the wealthy should be pursued instead.
“Niemand ist für Schwarzarbeit, aber hier wird denjenigen, die nicht gerade auf Rosen gebettet sind, mit Strafen gedroht, anstatt sich mal richtig mit den Superreichen und Vermögenden anzulegen.”
Our translation Nobody is in favour of undeclared work, but here those who are not exactly bedded on roses are being threatened with penalties, instead of really taking on the super-rich and the wealthy for once.
Source Sanktionen gegen Bürgergeldbezieher zeigen Doppelmoral der SPD (Die Linke press release)
Military service No conscription
Said
Die Linke will fight conscription both in parliament and on the streets.
“Wir werden sowohl im Parlament als auch auf den Straßen gegen die Wehrpflicht kämpfen!”
Our translation We will fight against conscription both in parliament and on the streets!
Source Jan van Aken answers a question on abgeordnetenwatch.de: what Die Linke will do against conscription
Germany in the world
Ukraine Stop arms for Ukraine
Said
He rejects arms deliveries to Ukraine because he believes they prolong the war and raise the risk of escalation, while recognising Ukraine's right to self-defence.
“Außerdem lehne ich Waffenlieferungen ab, weil ich überzeugt davon bin, dass sie den Krieg verlängern und das Risiko einer weiteren Eskalation erhöhen.”
Our translation In addition, I reject arms deliveries because I am convinced that they prolong the war and increase the risk of further escalation.
Arms for Israel Limit or stop arms to Israel
Said
Weapons should not be supplied to a state that violates international law, which he says Israel's army has done in Gaza.
“Ich finde nicht, dass man Waffen an jemanden liefern darf, der das Völkerrecht verletzt.”
Our translation I do not think that one may deliver weapons to someone who violates international law.
Source Jan van Aken answers a question on abgeordnetenwatch.de about arms deliveries to Israel
Who they would work with
Working with the AfD No cooperation with the AfD
Said
Die Linke will fight the AfD and push it back with every means available to it.
“Dagegen werden wir uns wehren und mit allen Mitteln, die uns zur Verfügung stehen, die AfD bekämpfen und zurückdrängen.”
Our translation We will resist this and, with all the means available to us, fight the AfD and push it back.
Source AfD-Verbotsverfahren jetzt auf den Weg bringen! (Die Linke press release)
No change of mind on record yet: every position above is the latest they have stated, with its date.
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.