The German populist Alliance party “Sarah Wagenknecht“, founded by the far-right leader of the same name, is campaigning for next year's federal vote on a platform of social measures such as rent freezes and higher pensions, DPA reported.
The party, which combines traditional left-wing social policies with an anti-migrant stance and a pro-Russian bias, also calls for “sincere efforts for a ceasefire“ in Ukraine and an end to German military equipment supplies, according to its eight-page election manifesto.
Germany voted on February 23, after the fall of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left coalition government.
The Alliance “Sarah Wagenknecht“ wants to freeze rent increases until 2030 in all regions "where the housing market is clearly outpacing incomes."
The housing shortage is a pressing problem in many German cities, with few new homes being built. Rents are set to rise by 4% in 2024, according to a recent analysis by the German Institute for Economic Research.
The party platform also calls for a minimum pension of 1,500 euros after 40 years of contributions.
The "Sarah Wagenknecht" Alliance calls for tax exemptions for pensions up to 2,000 euros per month and a statutory minimum wage of 15 euros per hour.
The party also demands the repeal of controversial laws aimed at switching the country to renewable sources of heating and banning internal combustion car engines.
It wants asylum seekers to be resettled in safe countries outside the European Union while their applications are processed.
Wagenknecht's party, founded in January, opposes further EU enlargement, also ruling out Ukraine's membership.
The new party, which recently entered the government of two eastern German states, has passed the five percent threshold for entering the Bundestag.