Bernd Riexinger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernd Riexinger
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Riexinger in 2018
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| Leader of The Left | |
| In office 2 June 2012 – 27 February 2021 Serving with Katja Kipping
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| Preceded by | Klaus Ernst |
| Succeeded by | Susanne Hennig-Wellsow |
| Member of the Bundestag for Baden-Württemberg |
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| In office 24 October 2017 – 25 March 2025 |
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| Preceded by | multi-member district |
| Constituency | The Left List |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 October 1955 Leonberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany (now Germany) |
| Political party | The Left (2007–) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour and Social Justice – The Electoral Alternative (2004–2007) |
Bernd Riexinger (born 30 October 1955) is a German politician. He is a member of the political party called Die Linke. From 2012 to 2021, he was a co-leader of The Left party, working alongside Katja Kipping. He is also a member of the Bundestag, which is Germany's parliament. He represents the region of Baden-Württemberg.
Contents
About Bernd Riexinger's Career
Bernd Riexinger grew up in a working-class family. From a young age, he was a pacifist, meaning he believed in solving problems peacefully and refused to join the military.
Early Jobs and Training
After finishing high school and business school, Riexinger trained to be a bank clerk. He worked at a bank called Leonberger Bausparkasse until 1980.
From 1980 to 1990, he was part of the works council at the bank. A works council is a group of employees who represent their co-workers to the company's management. During this time, he learned a lot about workers' rights and laws. In 1991, he became an official for a trade union. A trade union is an organization that helps protect the rights and interests of workers.
Bernd Riexinger's Political Journey
Bernd Riexinger became very active in politics. He often spoke up for workers and people who felt left out.
Starting in Politics
In 2003, Riexinger helped organize large protests against a government plan called "Agenda 2010." He then joined a new left-wing party called Labour and Social Justice (WASG). He was the leader of this party in Baden-Württemberg until it joined with another party to form The Left in 2007.
Until 2012, he worked as a manager for the ver.di trade union in Stuttgart. He was also a member of The Left party's leadership in Baden-Württemberg.
Leading The Left Party
Riexinger is part of a group within The Left party called the "Socialist Left." This group has strong socialist ideas.
On 30 May 2012, Bernd Riexinger announced he wanted to become the leader of The Left party. On 2 June 2012, he was elected as a co-leader with 53.5% of the votes. He shared the leadership role with Katja Kipping.
In June 2015, he was chosen to be a top candidate for The Left party in the state election in Baden-Württemberg in 2016. However, the party did not win enough votes to get seats in that election.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 2017 German federal election, Riexinger was one of six candidates from The Left party in Baden-Württemberg who were elected to the Bundestag. The Bundestag is like the House of Representatives in some other countries.
In August 2020, Riexinger and Katja Kipping announced they would step down as co-leaders. This was because of party rules that say a person should not hold the same position for more than eight years. Their successors were chosen in February 2021. Janine Wissler took over from Katja Kipping, and Susanne Hennig-Wellsow took over from Bernd Riexinger.
In December 2024, Riexinger shared that he would not run for re-election in the 2025 federal election.
Bernd Riexinger's Political Views
Bernd Riexinger has clear ideas on many important topics, including Europe, helping people seeking safety, and climate change.
Views on the European Union
Riexinger believes in working together across Europe. He does not want countries to go back to using their own separate money. He wants to create a strong "left-wing group" in Europe that stands against unfair economic policies and against right-wing populism. He believes in solidarity, working together internationally, and making sure everyone has a say in how Europe is run. He wants to build a "Europe from the bottom up" through cooperation between left-wing groups.
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Riexinger supported the idea of "coronabonds." These were special bonds that would help countries in Europe that were struggling financially because of the pandemic. He said that Germany, being the largest economy, should help weaker countries. He believed that not helping would make people turn to groups that are against the idea of a united Europe.
Views on Asylum Policy
At a party meeting in June 2018, Riexinger spoke about helping people who are seeking safety. He supported "safe, legal paths to asylum and open borders." This means he wants clear ways for people to come to Germany and seek protection.
Views on Climate Change
In July 2019, Riexinger said that he supports the government taking control of all airlines. He believes that the current market system is not good enough to manage how much air travel affects the climate.
See also
In Spanish: Bernd Riexinger para niños
