Left: East German must lead central ministry

The Left Party is calling for a strong voice for East Germany in the future black-red cabinet. "An East German or an East German must occupy a central ministry in the new federal government, either the Ministry of Finance or a Ministry of Infrastructure," former Left Party parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch told the German Press Agency in Berlin.

He justified the demand with the election results in the East, where the AfD was number one everywhere with well over 30 percent. In Thuringia, the far-right party achieved its best result, namely 38.6 percent of the second votes.

"In the federal election, the AfD became the strongest party in the eastern German states," said Bartsch, who comes from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. "The new cabinet must reflect the fact that Black-Red has understood this. The East German perspective should be represented in a central position and not just by a commissioner for the East."

After the coalition negotiations between the CDU/CSU and SPD have been concluded, a decision on personnel should be made. Particularly in view of the new special fund of up to 500 billion euros, the department responsible for infrastructure is of great importance, as is the Ministry of Finance.

Currently, the East Germans Klara Geywitz (SPD) and Steffi Lemke (Greens) hold ministerial posts, while the Commissioner for Eastern Germany Carsten Schneider (SPD) is Minister of State in the Federal Chancellery.