Left Party proposes comprehensive constitutional amendment for Saxony

The Left Party sees a considerable need for constitutional change in Saxony and goes far beyond the coalition's ideas with its proposals. We must find answers to the challenges of our time, said parliamentary group leader Rico Gebhardt on Friday in Dresden and criticized the changes planned by the CDU, Greens and SPD. "With their draft, the coalition is missing the opportunity to modernize the constitution. Implementing our proposals would make Saxony fairer, more democratic and more peaceful."

According to the Left Party's proposals, the debt brake should be removed from the constitution and instead the conditions under which the state may borrow should be regulated by law. "The major tasks of our time, above all improving the education system and securing the livelihoods of our children and grandchildren, require credit-financed investments," it said. A new amendment to the constitution would oblige the state to establish and maintain a just social order and guarantee social security, among other things.

An article on climate protection would be new. Climate protection and the mitigation of the consequences of climate change are defined as a "priority task of the country and an obligation of everyone in the country". "Every person has the right to protection of their integrity from injury and unreasonable risks arising from changes to the climate and the natural foundations of life," reads the Left's proposal. They also want to write a special fund of five billion euros into the constitution to promote social equality and mitigate the consequences of global warming.

The Left also wants animal welfare to be included in the constitution as a national objective. Other points include lowering the voting age to 16 and lower quorums for popular legislation. Gebhardt spoke of an offer to the coalition. For the foreseeable future, this is probably the last chance to jointly regulate future issues under constitutional law.

"The coalition is dependent on our votes if it does not want to change the constitution together with the enemies of the constitution in parliament," said Gebhardt with regard to the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment. He left open how the Left Party will behave if the coalition does not even begin to take up any of his group's proposals. The constitutional amendment is to take place before the end of this legislative period. A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony on September 1.